Senate probes N105.7bn financial infractions by federal agencies, threatens sanctions

The Senate has launched investigation into the alleged N105.66bn financial infractions by federal government agencies. 

The Auditor General of the Federation had in his latest annual report on the financial conduct of public institutions, currently before the two chambers of the National Assembly, revealed that a total of N105.66 billion had been expended by MDAs in breach of extant rules and regulations.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable workshop on ‘Strengthening legislative compliance for effective governance’ on Monday in Abuja, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Senator Garba Madoki, said the Senate would sanction any head of federal agency indicted for financial infractions.

The workshop was organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), for the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance.

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Madoki lamented the rate at which heads of MDAs were shunning invitations by the Senate, saying the trend would not be tolerated.

He said, “We are going to be very strict on the report of the Auditor General of the Federation. We are taking note of those items. In the very short while, measures are going to be taken against everybody who refused to comply with Senate resolutions on the matter.

 “Where compliance is not done, I can guarantee you that actions will be taken against whoever is infringing on those reports.” 

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his speech read on the occasion by the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, said the 10th National Assembly would not take it easy with any head of MDA who flouted its resolutions.