Reps grill PSC officials over N1bn alleged extra-budgetary spending

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts (PAC), on Monday, grilled officials of the Police Service Commission (PSC) over alleged extra-budgetary spending and unaccounted funds totalling N1, 066,398,223.

The committee being chaired by Dr Busayo Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun) also kicked against the payments of some of the funds into private accounts of some PSC officials without retirement.

The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation had issued six audit queries against the PSC in four years – 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019.

The office queried the N17,824,680 received from the Service Wide Vote in 2013, N1,853,456 in 2015, N336,696,142.65 in 2018, N400,000,000 in 2019, N17,733,944 in also 2019 and another N292,290,001.51 in 2019.

At the investigative hearing held by the committee in Abuja on Monday, the Permanent Secretary of the PSC, Mr Williams Alo and Director of Finance and Account, Brighten Saagwe, appeared before the lawmakers to make an oral defence of the expenditures, following a written presentation by the commission.

In its written defence, the PSC said the N17,824,680 from the SWV was “utilised in the payment of the severance allowances to former chairman and two full-time members of the commission whose tenure in the office expired by effluxion of time on 14th April 2013.”

The beneficiaries were DIG Parry B. Osayande (retd.) (N6,079,200), Honourable Justice S. O. Akintan (N5,872,740) and Alhaji Habu Daura (N5,872,740).

On the N1, 853,456 from 2015, the PSC said the money was the salary arrears of one Mr Asu James Ata.

“The commission vide a letter (with) Reference Number PSC/1631/1 dated 1st December 2015, requested the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (IPPIS Department) to pay the sum to the staff (member) whose IPPIS Number is 212412,” the response partly read.

The PSC said it requested the then Minister of Finance, via a letter dated September 30, 2017, to pay 95 disengaged staff members of accumulated salaries and allowances totalling N336,696,142.65 in 2018.

On the disputed N400m from 2019, the defence partly read: “The Police Service Commission in 2019 received the sum of N400, 000,000 to enable it to meet its statutory obligation.

“Pursuant to its constitutional powers of oversight on the police, the commission monitored the conduct of police officers deployed for election duty during the 2019 general elections in the country.

“The objective, besides instilling confidence in the electoral process, is also aimed at strengthening the nascent democracy and ensuring professionalism in the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), via a letter Ref: INEC/CH/GC/073/Vol.1, dated December 29, 2010, specifically gave the Commission the task of:

“Monitoring the registration/election process, particularly the performance of police officers on election duties; train police officers on conduct during elections; develop a reward system for police officers who perform creditably during the election; and develop and share with police a template for monitoring activities of police officers on election duties, including likely disciplinary and reward measures,” they said.

The PSC said it spent N120, 021,500 on procurement of six Toyota Hilux pick-up vans and another N279, 978,500 on Duty Tour Allowances and equipment.

On the N17, 733,944 also from 2019, the commission said it paid a total sum of N13, 528,846.94 as salary arrears to four workers while the balance of N4,205,097.06 was on December 31, 2019, “mopped up into the chest – Consolidated Revenue Account – via the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS).”

Defending the N292, 290,001.51 expenditure, the PSC said it received the sum as capital supplementation to mobilise the contractors, who are handling the construction of the commission’s headquarters located in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory back to the site.

“The amount was paid to Vita Construction Limited, a contractor handling the construction of the Police Service Commission’s corporate head office. The contract was awarded on 13th December 2011,” the defense partly read.

While not satisfied with the defense of the commission, the committee said the defences were defective on the grounds that the expenditures were not backed with necessary documents and receipts.

Consequently, the chairman of the committee directed the officials of the commission to reappear before it on Thursday, December 23 with all documents and receipts in support of the expenses.

He added that the officials should also come along with the contractor and the consultant handling its Permanent Headquarters Jabi, Abuja over the audit query.

He thereafter set up a three-man subcommittee to look into the submission of the commission ahead of Thursday’s appearance.

(Nigerian Tribune)