The 2019 audit report has revealed that Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority failed to present payment vouchers for its zonal Intervention projects vote in 2019 and the Capital Mandates Projects vote in 2019 amounting to N434,681,647.03.
According to ‘Section 85 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and paragraph 110 of the Financial Regulations “Auditor-General or his representatives, are empowered free access to the books of accounts, security documents and other records and information relating to the accounts of all MDAs and other arms of government or units.”
The regulations noted that the denial of free access to the books of accounts, security documents, and other records and information relating to the accounts of the Authority contravened the provisions of extant regulations.
According to the Audit report, “Twenty-one (21), 65 (Sixty-five) and 330 (Three hundred and thirty) payment vouchers raised under Zonal Intervention Projects vote in 2018, Zonal Intervention Projects vote in 2019 and Capital Mandates Projects vote in 2019 amounting to 182,906,168.88, 80,678,890.58 and 171,087,587.57 respectively, totalling N434,681,647.03 (Four hundred and thirty-four million, six hundred and eighty-one thousand, six hundred and forty-seven naira, three kobo) only, were not presented to the audit team for the examination despite several demands for them,
“Consequently, the purpose and justification for such expenditures could not be ascertained and is hereby disallowed. The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority, Owerri.”
“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority, Owerri.” the Auditor General noted.
Outlining the risk of this action, the Auditor-General raised the issue of misappropriation of government funds and diversion of public funds.
Despite financial provisions empowering the auditor to have free access to books of MDAs, the management referred the auditor to their office to access vouchers that could explain the project votes.
While the government has continued to restate its commitment to fiscal transparency, actions of MDAs have continued to cast doubt on the sincerity of the government in doing so.
Samuel Ajala is a data journalist and research intern with Dataphyte.
He has an interest in covering SDGs - education, climate change, energy transition, and gender equality.
You can follow him on Twitter; @ajalasamuelakin
Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.
