By Chijioke Ogbodo
According to the Auditor-General’s report on the Accounts of the Government of Enugu State for the year ended December 31, 2021, Dr. Livinus Okoro has raised concerns over alleged misappropriation of funds by Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), the Ministry of Health, and the State Health Board, where funds involved were worth millions of Naira. Additionally, the report has indicated that 34 government-owned organizations, parastatals, and statutory bodies have failed to submit their audited annual reports to the auditor-general’s office, which goes against the requirements of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and state law that establishes these institutions.
GMTNews recently obtained the 2021 report detailing financial infractions by various ministries, departments, and agencies, as highlighted by the auditor-general. While some of these parties satisfactorily responded to their respective queries, ENSUBEB, the Ministry of Health, and the State Health Board failed to respond appropriately to the auditor-general’s query.
For instance, the report revealed that the ENSUBEB led by Chief Ikeje Asogwa was queried over the alleged misappropriation of N41,966,235.20 from the LGEA overhead account, without gaining approval from JAAC. Additionally, N1,103,590.00 from the Federal/State Government counterpart fund was not accounted for, and N62,014,200.00 in revenue generated from contractors’ registration fees was yet to be remitted to the State Government IGR Account. Moreover, the report disclosed that N8,402,354.00 in VAT/WHT deductions from JUTECH Construction Company Ltd, and N4,369,981.63 in PAYE deductions, were yet to be remitted to the Board of Internal Revenue.
Table of government-owned companies, parastatals, and tertiary institutions that are behind schedule in submitting their audited accounts (1)
Meanwhile, the report also highlighted several other financial infractions by various parties. For example, N3,150,000.00 in audit fee deductions was not remitted to the government IGR Account, and N6,957.000.00 in irregular payment of medical allowance to ENSUBEB headquarters staff was yet to be refunded to the government. Additionally, N2,343,800.00 allocated for the purchase of tires and batteries, and N2,414.000.00 for vehicle maintenance, were yet to be accounted for. The report went on to reveal that N26,071,736.90 in cash advances to staff remained unretired.
Furthermore, the former Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, and the then Director of Administration, Mr. Chijioke Ngwu, were indicted over their failure to account for the missing vehicle No. BJ 621 UWN belonging to the ministry, which went missing during a vehicle repair exercise. Mr. Chijioke was also indicted for not refunding N537.500.00 claimed to have been paid for the repair of a Hilux Vehicle No. EN 93 A08, abandoned at a mechanic workshop. Additionally, the report disclosed that N400.000.00 was paid through Dr. Ekochin to DESIRE REAL EFF ALUM & MET SYSTEM LTD for the repair and installation of a school’s borehole that was never executed and was not refunded to the state government.
Moreover, the report disclosed that the principal and accountant of the School of Public Health, Nsukka, utilized N2,587,000.00 in the procurement of burglary proof, which was not refunded. Additionally, N22,574,290.00 worth of cash advances at the same school was not yet retired. Furthermore, the report stated that N800,731.50 generated from Fixed Fee Ticket at the State Health Board/Poly General Hospital, Asata, was not accounted for by the accountant, Mr. Paulinus Eze. Additionally, N11,552,340.00 in revenue generated was not remitted to the state IGR account. Furthermore, Mr. Eze was accused of not accounting for N1,944,325.00 from the Drug Revolving Fund, while Mrs. Oha Jacinta U., and Mrs. Nwobodo Peace N., failed to account for N6,449.850.00 from unapproved fees.
Lastly, the report highlighted that 34 parastatals, tertiary institutions, boards, and government-owned companies established by law failed to submit their audited annual accounts for review, some of which had not been done for as long as ten to 27 years. This goes against Section 125, sub-section 3 (a&b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates these organizations to produce their annual accounts for review and comments by the auditor-general.
The Enugu State auditor-general stated that the accounts of government companies, parastatals, and other statutory bodies established by law that have been in arrears for years are concerning and damaging to good governance, financial transparency, and accountability in government activities.
Table of government-owned companies, parastatals, and tertiary institutions that are behind schedule in submitting their audited accounts (2)
In a recent interview with Newsmen, the auditor-general disclosed that the Enugu State Government would hold back subventions to government-owned companies, parastatals, and other statutory bodies that do not submit their audited reports, which is in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Enugu State Audit Law No. 2 of 2021.
It is worth noting that Section 125, sub-section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandates the auditor-general for a state to submit their report to the House of Assembly of that state. Additionally, the House is also responsible for assigning a committee responsible for public accounts to consider the report.
According to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, the House has yet to conduct its oversight functions on the government-owned companies, parastatals, and statutory bodies to hold those responsible accountable for any wrongdoing.
Presently, the House has yet to take action against government officials accused of misappropriating public funds and putting them into their care. GMTNews
