The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has taken action by summoning the leadership of Nigeria Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT), Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRE), and several other government agencies to address a substantial N20.853 billion audit query.
The agencies summoned also include Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and three other entities. Rep Bamidele Salam, who leads the committee, has given a 72-hour ultimatum for these agencies to appear before it.
The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation has raised audit queries against these agencies, amounting to a total of N20.853 billion. Several notable agencies among those summoned are Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and the Federal University of Petroleum Studies in Effurum, Delta State.
Rep Salam emphasized that this decision to summon the agencies was made due to their absence during a committee sitting aimed at addressing the audit queries raised against them. He further warned that this invitation serves as the final notice before a warrant of arrest could be issued against the heads of these agencies.
Out of the six invited entities, only the Rural Electrification Agency sent letters to the committee requesting that the Chief Executive Officer be excused from attending the hearing.
The investigation conducted by the committee also includes the scrutiny of cash advances and the proper allocation of funds budgeted by the House for some of these agencies.
Rep Salam declared, “We are going to use our constitutional power to ensure that every kobo spent by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is prudently utilized.”
The committee members have previously expressed their dissatisfaction with the attitude of heads of some government agencies towards parliamentary invitations and have called for appropriate sanctions. (NAN)
