Misappropriation: Kano assembly orders three parastatals to refund N260m

THE Kano State House of Assembly has ordered the Kano State Road Traffic Agency, Kano State Primary Health Care Agency and Kano Printing Press to refund a total sum of N260 million misappropriated by the three agencies.

Speaking on the issue, the Chairman House Committee on Public Account, and member representing Fagge constituency, Mohammed Tukur, who presented the 2021 audited public account, expressed concern over financial ‘iniquity’ in government agencies.

However, the Assembly issued the order during plenary presided by the Speaker, Jibril Falgore, on Tuesday.

Accordingly, the assembly indicted the three state agencies for misappropriation of allocations and internally generated revenue.

In a unanimous adoption of the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Accounts, the Assembly cautioned all ministries, agencies and parastatals to comply with due diligence on public finance or face sanctions.

However, in the report, Tukur narrated how allocations on COVID-19 and social welfare programs got zero release of funds while the construction of 100 pit toilets with an estimated budget of N200 million secured 100 per cent capitalisation.

The lawmaker also lamented how the previous administration refused to approve the audit of six years of public accounts, leaving behind a backlog of unaudited public expenditures.

Tukur equally raised concern about the misuse of public revenues and allocations by the Kano State Road Traffic Agency, Kano State Primary Health Care Agency and Kano Printing Press, which were indicated in the report.

The Majority Leader, Lawan Husain, moved a motion to compel the auditor general and accountant general of the state to ensure proper accountability and transparency of public funds and refund of misappropriated monies by MDAs.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE