Reps threaten to sanction DG Budget Office over $37.6m meant for auditor general office

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has threatened to sanction the Director General Budget office, Dr. Ben Akabueze for allegedly holding on to $37.6 million meant for the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

The Auditor General’s Office had earlier claimed that, it is being grossly underfunded to carry out its functions.

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The committee resolved to sanction the DG because the letter he wrote to it while responding to the query, that he was hoarding a $36.1million personnel funds belonging to the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation and another $1.5million supposed to be released to the office as a grant was abusive and contemptuous.

The committee adopted a motion of privilege raised by the Deputy Chairman, Rep. Abdulkadir Abdullahi(APC, Bauchi).

Citing Order 5 Rule 6, he accused the DG of “Contempt of the House” and breach of his privilege, as a member of the House of Representatives.

Members of the committee unanimously agreed and moved for the DG Budget Office to be penalized.

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Wole Oke (PDP, Osun) berated the DG, for his confrontational response to an earlier letter from the committee on foreign loan of $36.1million and a grant of $1.5million from the World Bank to be released to the audit office for the hiring of more audit staff and other audit-related operations.

“DG, I am not a petty person; I deal with issues & facts. My letter to you, was not to you in person.

“The letter of this committee to you, was not to you in person. It was for the Budget Office.

“But for you to write parliament and insinuate as if, it’s a matter personal between you and us, is not right,” he said.

The Committee also summoned the Accountant General of the Federation, the Head of Service, the Head of Civil Service Commission and the Chairman of Federal Character Commission, to provide evidence of alleged payment of the $37.6million to the office of the Auditor General.

They are also to provide records of recruitment of additional staff for the office, and evidence that the recruitment, was not in breach of the Federal Character.