Reps Summon FIRS, Others To Answer Queries From AGF

Edited By Oduyemi Odumade

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account, has summoned the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Immigration Service and Nigerian Metrological Agency to appear before it on Tuesday next week.

Others also summoned are the Niger State Command, Investment and Security Tribunal, and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to answer queries issued against them by the Auditor General of the Federation.

At the hearing of the committee in Abuja, members described the actions of the agencies as 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 Center, Keffi, Nassarawa State to appear on Tuesday next week with necessary documents in support of various expenditure totaling about 10 Billion Naira queried by the Auditor General of 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.

Similarly, the committee directed the Acting Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to provide documents as evidence in support of his answers to ten audit queries issued by the Auditor General of the Federation.

A member of the House Committee, Dauda Zachariah Nyampa expressed concern over 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 at the hearing, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr. Bamidele Salam reiterated the commitment of the committee to thoroughly investigate the various issues of alleged violations of financial regulations by the MDAs in carrying out their mandate.

Edited By Grace Namiji