Senate probes payment of N14bn salary increase to staff by NSPMC

The Senate yesterday commenced a probe into the alleged payment of N14 billion as salary increase to all staff of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) by the agency’s board without the approval of the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Ahmed Wadada, stated this when the management of NSPMC appeared before the panel to respond to queries against the agency in the 2019 audit report.

The report said the NSPMC board had allegedly approved N14 billion for an increase in salaries and allowances of staff between 2016 and 2019, without necessary approval.

In his written submission, the Managing Director of NSPMC, Alhaji Ahmed Halilu, claimed that the company did not need any approval from the NSIWC because it was registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

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However, Halilu later admitted before the Senate committee that it was wrong not to have sought the approval of the NSIWC before implementing the new salaries and allowances increase.

Senator Nwebonyi Onyeka insisted that the misappropriated sum should be refunded to the Federal Government’s treasury.