The Senate has indicted certain ministries, departments and agencies, including the budget office over unretired advances to the federation account.
The report of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts which specifically demanded reprimand of the accounting officers of the indicted agencies noted that the infraction was in breach of existing financial regulations.
The recommendations of the Senate Committee on PAC chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide was sequel to the 2015 Audited General Report.
The report of the auditor general’s report revealed that the unretired advances to the tune of N2billion was a gross violation of Financial Regulations (2009) Nos. 1404, 1405, 1416, 1419 and 1420 which require prompt retirement of advances.
The query read in part: “Some MDAs showed an increase in outstanding advances to the tune of N2,296,567,084.37 over 2014 comparative figures and others showing no movement contrary to the provisions of the extant regulations which require prompt retirement of advances.
“The above implies that: There is a violation of Financial Regulations (2009) Nos. 1404, 1405, 1416, 1419 and 1420 which require prompt retirement of advances.
“The MDAs that had previous year’s advances that were not retired were granting additional advances.
“The huge outstanding advances imply a breakdown of internal controls over the issuance of advances.
“The non-retirement of advances as and when due should be addressed by the accountant-general of the federation with strict sanctions.”
The Senate Committee expressed strong reservations over the indifference of the account-general to the query and further maintained that non-response to query means acceptance of the infractions contained therein and this is again a violation of the Financial Regulations.”
While recommending sanctions for the accounting officers of the MDAs, it noted that it was in accordance with the provisions of Rule 3124 of Financial Regulations which states that ‘a public officer who fails to respond to a query issued to him within 21 days for non-retirement of advances or interests shall be surcharged and the total amount involved recovered.'”
Other agencies involved in the infractions are the National Industrial Court, Ministry of Communication Technology, High Court of Justice FCT, Sharia Court of Appeal Abuja, National Planning Commission (NPC), Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Others are the Federal Ministry of Culture and National Orientation, Public Complaints Commission, Federal Civil Service Commission, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Nigeria Immigration Office, Police Service Commission.
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