THE AUDITOR-GENERAL of the Federation (AGF) has picked holes in contracts awarded by the National Agencies For Prohibition Of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP) IN 2020, describing them as ‘anomalies.’
In the 2022 report, the AGF disclosed that a contract valued at N21.879 million was awarded to a contractor for sensitisation for the effects of child labour in Lokoja/Koto Federal Constituency, Kogi State.
“The award did not follow due process as the three (3) contractors that submitted quotations for the job were related, as details, including phone numbers of each of the companies the same,” the AGF said.
The nation’s chief auditor further revealed the anomaly in the contract, stating that only a 1-day training was held at Idrisnana Hotels in Lokoja on November 21, 2020, whereas a 3-day training had been paid for from public funds.
“One hundred (100) persons were trained as per the attendance sheets, whereas the bill submitted by the contractor was for two hundred and two (202) persons for the three-day sentisation program,” the AGF noted, pointing out that the practice led to the payment for services not rendered, award of contracts to incompetent contractors, and diversion of public funds.
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NAPTIP did not respond to the AGF’s query. Nigeria’s chief auditor therefore recommended that the director-general of the agency at that time, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, give account to the public accounts committees of the National Assembly regarding the transactions, while ensuring she recovered and remitted the N21.879 million to the treasury, Failure to do so, according to the AGF, would attract sanctions in line with paragraphs 3016 and 3117 of the Financial Regulations (2009).
Payment for contracts without evidence of utilisation
Similarly, the AGF revealed that, “five contracts valued at N176,823 million were awarded and paid to contractors for various sensitisation programmes. Out of the payments in (i) above, the sum of N45.712,586 was released for logistics, security, consultancy fee etc. without evidence of utilisation.”
The AGF further noted that relevant supporting documents and records such as list/evidence of payment for security services, names of resource persons and medical support assistants were not provided for audit, resulting in loss of governmnt funds and misappropriation of funds.
There was no response from NAPTIP. The AGF therefore recommended that the director-general of the agency give account to the public accounts committees of the National Assembly regarding the transactions, while ensuring she recovered and remitted the N176.823 million million to the treasury, Failure to do so, according to the AGF, would attract sanctions in line with paragraphs 3104 and 3106 of the Financial Regulations (2009).
Payment for projects without evidence of execution
The AGF further accused NAPTIP of paying for projects without evidence of execution. “The Agency awarded contracts valued at N89, 642, 300 to contractors for the providion of all-in-one solar lights in selected locations in Yobe North Senatirial District, Yobe State. Physical inspection of the projects revealed that the contracts were not executed despite full payment to the contractors,” the AGF disclosed, stating that the anomalies could be ascribed to the weaknesses in the internal control system at NAPTIP.
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There was also no response from NAPTIP. The AGF precribed that the director-general of the agency give account to the public accounts committees of the National Assembly regarding the transactions, while ensuring she recovered and remitted the N89.642,300 to the treasury, Failure to do so, according to the AGF, would attract sanctions in line with paragraphs 3104 and 3106 of the Financial Regulations (2009).
Allegations against other agencies
Economy Post reported that the AGF had also accused the management of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) of deliberately understating revenue to the tune of N4.047 billion, while also making questionable payment for vehicles.
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The AGF also accused the National Pension Commission (PenCom) of paying N7.261 billion to 2,863 unidentified beneficiaries of deceased Federal Government employees in 2022 through different Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) without details.
The National Assembly Service Commission was equally accused of inflating a contract worth N11.647 billion, while paying a contractor without approval.
The AGF further alleged that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development committed multiple acts of fraud, ranging from an inability to account for over N5 billion to the payment for a road contract without evidence of execution.
The AGF further accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of booking 42 AK-47 rifles and pistols as well as 737 live ammunition in 2 years without returning or re-booking them.
The office said police personnel under the command booked live ammunition and firearms from the FCT CID between 2021 and 2022, but its failure to return or re-book them made it difficult to verify the existence or otherwise of such arms.
