The House of Representatives, Public Accounts Committee has issued summons for appearance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Niger State Command, Investment and Security Tribunal, and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to appear on Tuesday next week to answer queries issued against them by the Auditor General for the Federation.
Hon. Bamidele Salam, the chairman of the House Committee disclosed this at the hearing in Abuja on Thursday, November 9.
According to Bamidele, the actions of the agencies are unacceptable especially in view of the previous invitations extended to them and the grievous nature of the allegations levelled against them in the 2019 Auditor General’s Report which have not been responded to.
The Committee also directed the medical director of the federal medical centre, Keffi, Nassarawa State to appear on Tuesday next week with necessary documents in support of various expenditures totaling about 10 Billion Naira queried by the Auditor General for the Federation.
The Committee wondered why the Medical Director who had been in office for close to seven years should continuously seek for an extension of time to respond to infractions bothering on diversion of public funds, non-remittance of internally generated revenue to the federation accounts, payment of allowances without the approval of the salaries and wages committee among other allegations.
In a similar vein, the committee directed the Acting Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to provide documentary evidence in support of his answers to ten audit queries issued by the Auditor General for the Federation.
Hon. Dauda Zachariah Nyampa, (PDP, Adamawa) also a member of the House Committee, expressed concerns at the fact that the council had been in the habit of using delay tactics to frustrate the work of the Public Accounts Committee especially in the 9th Assembly.
Speaking, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Bamidele reiterated the commitment of the committee to exhaustive and impartial investigation into the various issues of alleged violations of financial regulations by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in carrying out their mandate.
Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Isa Ali, member representing the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituencies in Gombe State who also came in company of the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Ali Madaki expressed the support of the House leadership to the work of the Public Accounts Committee stressing the revolve of the 10th Assembly Leadership to strengthen all committees in a manner that will ensure proper accountability by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
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