The Senate Public Accounts Committee has queried the Ministry of Petroleum Resources over payment of N98.4m for the printing of leaflets for awareness campaign for the Petroleum Industry Bill without due process.
The committee, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, sustained the query after considering the 2015 report of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
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The query reads: “Contrary to procurement process, an entry in the cash book for the sum of N98.4m was made in favour of a company for printing of leaflets for awareness campaign programme for the Petroleum Industry Bill.
“There was no formal award of contract and it was also observed that the approval for the payment was via memo presented by the Director (Press) to Ministerial Tender Board meeting of 9th and 11th October, 2013.
“The permanent secretary had been requested to take procedural disciplinary measures against the erring officers in line with provision with extant regulation.”
The ministry, in its written response, said: “Adequate publicity was made. M/s Dangrace and Partners Ltd was selected based on proven capabilities and competence.
“It should be stated that veritable costing proposals were submitted and approved before the authorization for the award and production of PIB leaflets.
“The Department complied with necessary rule and procedure.” In another query, the audit report said contrary to the e-payment policy of the Federal Government, N39.7m was paid to 178 staff of the ministry for project monitoring and evaluation in 2014. “It was curious that 178 officers in the division of the ministry could be involved in project monitoring and evaluation at the same time.
“To all intent and purpose, this expenditure cannot be accepted as a legitimate charge against public funds,” the report said.
The ministry responded: “The two staff were appointed as the project accountants for the project. People were grouped and assigned to various projects for prudence and accountability. Reports were submitted to the appropriate Department. Due process and procedure was followed in the best interest of the service. “Duplication of officers’ names and locations were due to officers visiting different places after grouping. No officer was paid DTA for monitoring parastatals within Abuja. They were paid to monitor those outside Abuja.”
