Senate queries Budget Office over ‘excess payment’ of N28.8bn to MDAs

The Senate has queried the Budget Office of Federation over alleged excess payment of N28.8bn to some ministries, departments and agencies of government. 

The Senate Public Accounts Committee, relying on a 2016 audit report, said the alleged infraction was committed in 2015. 

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The committee, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, is probing the spendings of government agencies using the audit report. 

The query reads: “There  was no  evidence  to  show  that  these  advances  were  recovered  from  the  subsequent payments  made  to  these  MDAs,  resulting  in  excess releases  to  the  benefiting  MDAs, above  their  appropriated  amounts.  

“Furthermore, there was no  evidence  of  any supplementary  budgetary allocation  from the National  Assembly. 

“The Director-General  was  requested  to  recover  these  advances  from  the benefiting  MDAs  from  subsequent  payments  due  to  them  or  show  evidence  of supplementary  approval  from  the  National  Assembly  for  the  sum  of  N28,880,533,107.00 released as advances. Evidence of  compliance  should  be  furnished  for  verification.”

But the Budget Office, in a written response as captured in the audit report, said, “The details of the MDAs under reference have not been provided to enable us respond appropriately.”