MOUNTING CONCERNS over financial accountability in Nigeria’s federal ministries have intensified as the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has called for anti-corruption agencies to investigate two former Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa.
The committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to question the former officials over alleged financial irregularities amounting to N3.2 billion.
The Explainer gathered that the call for an investigation follows repeated attempts by the committee to get the ministry to respond to 32 audit queries raised in the 2020 audit report by the Auditor-General for the Federation. Despite sending seven invitations, the committee noted that neither the ministry nor its officials had honoured the summons or provided the required documents to clear the infractions.
Salam, who represents Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in Osun State, decried the growing disregard for parliamentary oversight, warning that ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) must be held accountable for funds allocated to them.
“We Are Not a Rubber Stamp”—Committee Laments Disregard for Oversight
At the public hearing, Salam expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from the Ministry of Labour and other government agencies. “We have had several instances where civil society organisations and members of the public have criticised the National Assembly for not doing enough in terms of oversight and using our statutory powers to keep MDAs in check. These agencies must be accountable to ensure they deliver on the government’s intentions and justify the budget allocations they receive.”
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He further revealed that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment had been invited seven times in the last five months but had consistently ignored the summons. In addition, the ministry failed to provide financial records to address the audit queries against it.
According to Salam, one of the most troubling aspects of the audit findings was the N351 million allocation to the Geneva Labour Desk, despite the desk already receiving an appropriation from the National Assembly. Other discrepancies highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report include:
- N226 million was paid without evidence of execution.
- N344 million in unretired cash advances.
- N7 million payment for consultancy services without execution.
- N238 million in cash advance policy violations.
- N497 million for job centres in three locations that allegedly do not exist.
- N144 million payment for a non-executed contract in Kaduna.
- N67 million unsubstantiated contract award.
The committee insisted that Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, who served as Permanent Secretaries at the time, should be held responsible as they were the ministry’s chief accounting officers when the financial infractions occurred.
Ultimatum Issued to Current Permanent Secretary
Beyond the investigation into past officials, the committee also placed the current Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Saliu Usman on notice. The Explainer gathered that Usman has been given a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before the committee and address seven audit queries raised in the 2021 financial report by the Auditor-General. Failure to comply, the committee warned, could result in the adoption of the Auditor-General’s recommendations, which might trigger further legal consequences.
The directive was not limited to the Labour Ministry alone. Salam announced that Permanent Secretaries from three other key ministries—Adeleye Ayodeji (Transportation), Mariam Keshero (Women Affairs), and Yakubu Adams Kofamata (Humanitarian Services)—had also been summoned and given 72 hours to respond to outstanding financial queries from the Auditor-General’s reports.
Lawmakers Demand Accountability as Pressure Mounts
During the hearing, some committee members voiced their concerns over the repeated disregard for parliamentary oversight. Emeka Chinedu, a committee member, particularly expressed disappointment that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, a former House of Representatives member, had not intervened to ensure the ministry cooperated with the committee.
Salam reinforced that the committee was determined to conclude its review of the 2020 and 2021 audit reports before submitting the 2022 financial report in April. He emphasised that the National Assembly would not allow government agencies to mismanage public funds without scrutiny.
