A civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has decried the misappropriation of funds by members of Nigeria’s National Assembly as revealed by the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report.
In a series of tweets on Thursday, SERAP explained how the members of the house obtained N2.5billion as running costs in 2019 but refused to pay back the money.
It further alleged that the house paid N107million to two staff members for “repairs and maintenance of unspecified residential quarters” which is against the financial regulation.
About 59 members of the House of Representatives who also took loans worth N258 million have refused to pay back the loan.
Also, the National Assembly Service Commission in 2019 reportedly paid N31 million to 59 staff members as “personal cash advances” but failed to retire the money.
The tweets read, ”Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives reportedly collected N2,550,000,000.00 as running costs between July and December 2019 but failed to retire the money; North East-N187million; South South – N272million; South East-N442milllion; North Central-N391million, South West-N629million, North West-N629million.
“Nigeria’s House of Representatives granted N258,000,000 to 59 staff members as “cash advances” between February and December 2019 but failed to retire the money. The Auditor-General of the Federation fears the money may have been stolen and wants it fully recovered.
“Nigeria’s House of Representatives in 2019 reportedly paid N107,912,962.45 to two staff members for “repairs and maintenance of unspecified residential quarters.”
The cash advances were in excess of the threshold of N200,000.00 stipulated by the Financial Regulations.
“Nigeria’s House of Representatives claimed to have paid N1,594,807,097.83 to revenue authorities between February and December 2019, but failed to show the evidence of payment to the relevant revenue authorities.
“Nigeria’s House of Representatives in 2019 reportedly paid N1,010,598,610.97 from salary account but without preparation of payment vouchers as required by the Financial Regulations. The Auditor-General fears the money may have been “diverted”, and wants it fully recovered.
”The National Assembly Service Commission in 2019 reportedly paid N31,927,760 to 59 staff members as “personal cash advances” but failed to retire the money. The Auditor-General fears the money may have been “diverted”, and wants it fully recovered.
“Nigeria’s Senate reportedly deducted N219,645,567.08 from 107 Senators’ salary arrears as “housing loans” between July and December 2019, but “there was no evidence to show that the money was remitted to the Treasury”, contrary to the Financial Regulations.
“Nigeria’s Senate reportedly recovered vehicle loans of N123,320,916.72, deducted from the senators’ salary arrears between July and December 2019, but “there was no evidence to show that the money was remitted to the Treasury”, contrary to the Financial Regulations.”
