Reps summon SGF, HoS, DG Budget over commission’s 28-year unaudited accounts
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, on Wednesday, discovered that the accounts of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has never been audited since it was established in 1993.
This was revealed at the investigative hearing by the committee on the audit queries issued against ministries, department and agencies of the Federal Government by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.
The Auditor General of the Federation had told the committee that it had no information in respect of the commission’s audited accounts.
The Auditor-General, who was represented by Maryam Ibrahim, said, “External auditors are supposed to audit them and then we have records of their audited accounts. But we do not have any record of this agency.”
Members of the committee were miffed by the revelation, describing it as a gross misconduct for the commission not to have rendered its accounts in the 28 years of its existence.
Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, consequently, invited the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Head of Service of the Federation, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General.
The committee also asked Acting Chairman of the NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, who appeared before the lawmakers on Wednesday, to reappear before it.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, on Wednesday, discovered that the accounts of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has never been audited since it was established in 1993.
This was revealed at the investigative hearing by the committee on the audit queries issued against ministries, department and agencies of the Federal Government by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.
The Auditor General of the Federation had told the committee that it had no information in respect of the commission’s audited accounts.
pposed to audit them and then we have records of their audited accounts. But we do not have any record of this agency.”
Members of the committee were miffed by the revelation, describing it as a gross misconduct for the commission not to have rendered its accounts in the 28 years of its existence.
Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, consequently, invited the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Head of Service of the Federation, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General.
The committee also asked Acting Chairman of the NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, who appeared before the lawmakers on Wednesday, to reappear before it.
Oke said the committee needs to understand what the law says about the commission, stressing that law the should be respected.
Nta had told the committee that he assumed office in August 2019 and observed the situation then. He said during his investigation, he was informed it was due to shortage of staff and inadequate funding.
Nta, however, stated that all the auditing needs of the commission had always been incorporated in the Auditor General’s final report, which is presented to parliament.
