The House of Representatives Committee on Finance and Committee on National Planning have warned that federal government agencies may attract the scrutiny of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for extra-budgetary spending and non-remittances of funds due for the federal government.
The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Rep. James Abiodun Faleke gave the warning at the joint sitting of the two committees on budget performance of agencies on Wednesday.
The warning followed the discovery of extra-budgetary spending by the Centre for Management Development (CMD) after a presentation by its Director General, Bitrus Chinoko who presented the agency’s budget performance report.
He explained that the agency is a fully funded government establishment mandated to conduct training for national development.
- I inherited 70% idle young population –Zamfara Gov
- Suswan, Edeh pledge solar electricity for Benue varsity
However, the lawmakers criticised the agency for spending funds without proper appropriation.
They were further angered when the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) of the agency claimed that they had permission to spend without appropriation, which the committee demanded proof in the form of a letter of authorisation.
But the DG quickly apologised for the DFA’s claim.
Rep. Faleke, who described CMD’s extra-budgetary spending as unlawful, stated that agencies funded by the government must remit 100% of their revenue to the treasury.
He warned that such financial recklessness could result in their referral to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.
Other agencies that appeared before the joint sitting of the committees on Wednesday included the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and others.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
