The House of Representatives has uncovered extensive financial irregularities involving 31 federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), citing unaccounted funds totalling over ₦103.8 billion and $950,912.05. The revelations stem from an in-depth review of the Auditor-General’s Annual Reports for the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years.
Following deliberations on the report of the House Committee on Public Accounts during Tuesday’s plenary, lawmakers adopted a motion urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover the funds and ensure their remittance into the Federation Account.
The motion, spearheaded by Rep. Bamidele Salam, pointed to “grave internal control failures, unauthorised expenditures, and persistent violations of procurement regulations” across the indicted agencies.
Among the major infractions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was flagged for making payments without legislative approval on a presidential lodge project in the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia. The ministry was ordered to refund ₦124 million and $795,000, as well as explain the disbursement of ₦49.4 million for unapproved renovations and another ₦9.2 million lacking supporting documentation.
The Bank of Agriculture also came under scrutiny for failing to recover debts totalling ₦75.6 billion. In response, the House directed the immediate publication of the names of debtors in three national newspapers, tasking both anti-graft agencies with recovering the funds. An additional ₦350 million in overdue accounts is to be tracked and accounted for within 90 days.
Other agencies implicated include:
- Nigerian Correctional Service – Mandated to recover ₦7.47 million in unremitted withholding taxes.
- Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) – Directed to retrieve 12 official vehicles, including eight diverted to the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and to refund ₦12 million spent in breach of procurement rules.
- Kwali Area Council (FCT) – Ordered to account for ₦82 million disbursed to 105 unidentified individuals. The former council chairman was tasked with recovering the funds and presenting evidence to the committee.
- Rural Electrification Agency (REA) – Indicted over ₦1.3 billion in irregular transactions, including ₦394 million used for unauthorised projects and ₦969 million improperly transferred to a Eurobond ledger.
- Veterinary Council of Nigeria – Must remit over ₦19 million in excess payments and unremitted internally generated revenue (IGR), in addition to ₦1.1 million in uncollected stamp duties.
- Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NCSL) – Instructed to refund ₦1 billion, comprising ₦250 million misappropriated by staff and contractors and ₦700 million in unresolved debts.
Lawmakers emphasized that the recurrent disregard for financial regulations and oversight mechanisms poses a significant threat to fiscal accountability and national development.
“The volume of infractions uncovered is alarming and demands immediate enforcement action,” Rep. Salam said. “This House has taken a clear stand in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring that public resources are safeguarded.”
The House concluded by mandating the relevant oversight committees to follow up on the implementation of the directives and to submit progress reports within a defined timeframe.
