Senate uncovers how ministry paid N968.8m for contract without approval — Senate

The upper chamber of the National Assembly has exposed how officials of the Ministry of Defence paid N968.8 million for the production and supply of medals and ribbons for Independence anniversary for the armed forces without approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Ministerial Tenders Board.

In a report by the Auditor General of the Federation, the officials of the Ministry of Defence were said to have facilitated payment for the contract despite the objection raised by the Deputy Director (Budget) in a memo dated April 24, 2013.

To this end, the Senate Committee on Public Account, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, sustained the indictment report against the Ministry of Defence over the issue due to the failure of officials of the ministry to explain their own side of the allegation.

The chairman explained that several invitations were extended to the ministry on the matter with no response and the committee, therefore, had no other option than to sustain the query.

It was learnt that the contract was awarded in 2010 and 50 percent of the contract sum was paid to the contractor and balance of the sum was paid January 26, 2015, to the contractor.

The query read: “The permanent secretary of the ministry is expected to recover N968 million from the contractor and forward the payment for audit verification.

“A memo, dated 24th April, 2013, raised by DD (Budget), had expressed misgivings about the way and manner the contract was awarded, further raising the doubt on the lack of transparency.

“A contract for the production and supply of medals and ribbons for Independence anniversary for the Armed Forces of Nigeria was awarded at a total contract sum of N968, 830,000.00.

 “The entire contract sum had been paid in January. The sum N484,415,000.00 was paid in 2010, representing 50% of the contract sum and the balance of N484,415,000.00 was paid on 26/01/2015 vide payment voucher no. 4001.

“Further examination of the payment voucher attachments revealed the following irregularities.

“There was no evidence of any Ministerial Tenders Board Meeting that considered this award, contrary to Financial Regulation 2921(i).

“The approval of the permanent secretary for the payment of the balance of N484, 415,000.00 is above his approval threshold.

“There was no evidence of the Federal Executive Council approval, together with the Bureau of Public Procurement ‘No Objection Certificate’.

“A memo, dated 24th April, 2013, raised by DD (Budget), had expressed misgivings about the way and manner the contract was awarded, further raising the doubt on the lack of transparency.

“The items (ribbons and medals) were not taken on store charge because there was no store receipt voucher produced, in violation of Financial Regulations 2401 (i).

“The total sum of N968, 830,000 paid in respect of this contract could not be admitted as a legitimate charge against public funds.

“The permanent secretary has been requested to recover the sum of N968, 830,000.00, forwarding evidence of recovery to this office for audit verification.”  (Daily Independent)