THE House of Representatives has indicted 31 federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for financial mismanagement involving over ₦103.8 billion and $950,912.05, calling for immediate recovery of the funds by anti-corruption agencies.
News Point Nigeria reports that the sweeping indictment followed the adoption of a motion presented by Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) during Tuesday’s plenary.
The motion was based on the findings of the House Committee on Public Accounts, which reviewed the Auditor-General’s Annual Reports for 2019 and 2020.
The committee’s report detailed widespread infractions, ranging from unauthorised expenditures and procurement violations to unremitted taxes and internally generated revenues.
Lawmakers unanimously called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to recover the stolen or misappropriated funds and prosecute offenders where necessary.
Some of the agencies/ministries are:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cited for unauthorised spending on a presidential lodge at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
Ordered to refund over ₦124 million and $795,000 to the federal treasury.
An additional ₦31.7 million and $155,923 flagged as unappropriated expenditures.
₦49.4 million paid without following procurement procedures, and ₦9.2 million disbursed without documentation.
BoA
Indicted for failing to collect debts totaling ₦75.6 billion.
Ordered to publish names of debtors in three national newspapers and recover an additional ₦350 million within 90 days.
Prison Service
Directed to remit ₦7.47 million in unpaid withholding taxes.
Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA)
Ordered to recover 12 government vehicles held by officials of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
Cited for procurement infractions amounting to over ₦12 million.
Kwali Area Council, FCT:Paid ₦82 million to 105 unnamed individuals.
Former chairman tasked to recover and return funds with evidence.
Rural Electrification Agency
Found guilty of financial misconduct amounting to over ₦1.3 billion.
Former MD must refund ₦394 million for unapproved projects.
Other red flags include ₦4.2 million on unauthorised publicity and ₦969 million moved to a Eurobond ledger.
Veterinary Council of Nigeria
Ordered to remit ₦1.1 million in unpaid stamp duties and ₦19 million in unremitted IGR.
Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NCSL)
Directed to refund over ₦1 billion, including ₦250 million misappropriated by contractors and staff.
Accused of tax evasion, unremitted staff debts, and illegal advances.
Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc
Paid ₦14.4 billion in unauthorised salaries and allowances.
Must refund an additional ₦432 million in under-deducted allowances and ₦91.5 million spent without NITDA clearance.
Ministry of Petroleum Resources
Ordered to refund ₦373.4 million in unapproved virements and ₦66.7 million spent without prepayment audits.
Directed to recover an official Toyota Prado from a staff member.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu lauded the Public Accounts Committee for its meticulous work and called for urgent reforms to tighten financial oversight.
“The committee’s findings highlight systemic failure and reckless abuse of public trust. We must send a clear message that this House will not tolerate impunity,” he said.
The House also called for legislative action to empower agency heads to appoint external auditors in the absence of governing boards, a frequent excuse for non-compliance.
Anti-graft agencies are to commence immediate recovery of misappropriated funds. Defaulting MDAs must submit evidence of compliance within 90 days.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is expected to issue a circular or initiate an amendment to financial regulations enabling audit enforcement.
This development marks one of the most comprehensive anti-corruption reviews in recent years, covering a range of agencies critical to governance, security, infrastructure, and economic management.