Senate queries Budget Office over N151.3bn extra-budgetary spending

The Senate has commenced investigation into an alleged extra-budgetary spending of N151.3 billion by the Budget Office of the Federation without recourse to the National Assembly..

The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, in a 2016 report, stated that the alleged infraction was committed in the 2015 financial year. 

• #EndSARS: NEC warns against fresh protests, to prosecute erring policemen
• Hyacinth Dada Obunseh: Tribute of one Obunseh, three footpaths

The Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, had summoned the officials of the office to respond to the query, but none of them showed up when the issue was raised this week. 

However, the agency, in a written response as captured in the audit report, denied receiving or spending the money, saying “The N151.3bn in the auditor-general’s report was neither received nor spent by the Budget Office; hence, the figure was not recorded in the relevant books.”