Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that N106bn of public funds are missing from 149 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as documented in the 2018 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered.”

SERAP also urges him “to direct Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to create a system of public announcements to name and shame the indicted 149 MDAs, including those that reportedly failed to remit over N55bn of their revenue; awarded contracts of over N18bn for services not rendered; and spent over N23bn without any supporting documents.”

In the letter dated 17 April 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The reported missing public funds reflect the failure of the indicted MDAs to ensure strict compliance with transparency and accountability rules and regulations, and the failure of leadership of the MDAs to foster institutions that uphold the rule of law and human rights.”

According to SERAP, “Recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s human rights obligation to progressively realize Nigerians’ rights to quality health care and education, as well as reduce the growing level of public debts.”

The letter, read in part: “SERAP urges you to ask Mrs Ahmed and Mr Ahmed Idris, the Accountant-General of the Federation to explain why they allegedly failed to ensure strict compliance with relevant legislation, rules and regulations across all MDAs, despite the warning and recommendations by the Auditor-General.”

“SERAP also urges you to direct Mrs Ahmed to publish full details of the yearly budgets of all MDAs, and issue regular updates that accurately detail their expenditures, including by making any such information easily accessible in a form that can be understood by the public.”

“The Auditor-General stated that the alleged infractions by the 149 MDAs could have been prevented if the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation had heeded his warning to ensure strict compliance with relevant legislation, rules and regulations across all MDAs.”

“SERAP is concerned that the alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing funds could have helped your government to invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these services.”

“Investigating and prosecuting the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators. It will improve the integrity of MDAs, as well as serve the public interest.”

“Any failure to promptly investigate the allegations and prosecute suspected perpetrators would breach Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation, and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“SERAP has carefully analysed the recently released 2018 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation and our analysis reveals the grim allegations that N105,662,350,077.46 of public funds are missing, misappropriated or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs in 2018.”

“According to the Auditor-General, 35 MDAs failed to remit N48,551,274,468.35 of generated revenue, and N5,418,780,747.23 of statutory deductions including value added tax, withholding tax, and stamp duties in 2018, thereby ‘depriving the government of the much-needed fund to pursue its agenda.’”

“Similarly, 25 MDAs awarded contracts amounting to N18,369,595,564.47 in violation of the Public Procurement Act (PPA), 2007, including disregard to due process, irregularity in payment for contracts, excessive pricing of procurements, payment for services not rendered, and payment in full for uncompleted projects.”

“Another N23,486,881,920.49 was spent by 48 MDAs without following the rules and regulations relating to spending procedures and policies, and without any documents to support such spending. Furthermore, 11 MDAs paid N8,389,842,637.88 for store items that were not taken on store charge. The Auditor-General fears that the items may be ‘missing/misappropriated.’”

“In addition, 18 MDAs paid N354,223,774.67 as cash advances to staff without duly retiring the money, contrary to the Financial Regulation 1405 and Financial Regulation 1420. According to the Auditor-General, ‘unretired cash and personal advances may be a deliberate attempt to divert public funds for personal use.’”

“Moreover, 12 MDAs spent N371,750,964 as cash advances, above the approved threshold of N200,000.00, contrary to the Treasury Circular Ref. No. TRY/A2&B2/2009OAGF/CAD/26/V, which requires all local procurement of stores and services costing above N200,000.00 to be made only through the award of contracts.”

“There are several other infractions documented in the report, a copy of which can be obtained from the Auditor-General’s office. The 2018 audited report therefore suggests a grave violation of the public trust. These damning revelations also suggest that the indicted MDAs lack effective and credible internal processes to prevent and combat corruption.”

“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; anti-corruption legislation, and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption; and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”

The letter was copied to Mr Malami; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Mrs Ahmed; and chairmen of the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.

https://serap-nigeria.org/2021/04/18/serap-writes-buhari-seeks-probe-of-missing-n106bn-in-149-mdas-in-2018/

Where has previous probes led to? It has always been no money missing. This country is a joke. SERAP or Sharrap ur mouth you mean to say. The corruption under this government is so worst than previous governments we had thought was the worst.

The way una dey take call this money sef ehhhh

So so in billions, nawa ooo

Why does serap keep wasting their time writing stupid letter to a fake anti corruption government

Asking Buhari to probe corruption is like a mirage. Nothing will come out of it.

APC

naso so write dem dey write since we no see outcome of anything

mumu lots

Tobbydhayor90:


https://serap-nigeria.org/2021/04/18/serap-writes-buhari-seeks-probe-of-missing-n106bn-in-149-mdas-in-2018/

Untainted007:
Where has previous probes led to? It has always been no money missing. This country is a joke. SERAP or Sharrap ur mouth you mean to say. The corruption under this government is so worst than previous governments we had thought was the worst.

Serap or Sharrap omo my man dey para����... But weitin dey pain me pass na say the way Dem dey call the money sef no be millions na hundreds of billions omo this Naija don dey black market������

Toothless

Wetin SERAP don achive with there letters?

We call them government of change. They are setting precedence for other governments to follow.
#NigeriaEnjoyYourChange

Why is SERAP wasting their ink?
They are writing someone that can't read and assimilate?
All the ones they've written, what has he done to it?
I Sha know that this wayo government go end one day sha

Our naira was more stronger than all this country two years ago

*NIGERIAN NAIRA FAST BECOMING THE WEAKEST CURRENCY IN AFRICA.*...

South Africa: Rand 1= ₦79

Angola: 1Kwanza = ₦12

Botswana: 1Pula = ₦28

Cape Verde: 1Escudo = ₦8

Algeria: 1Dinar = ₦12

Egypt: 1Pound = ₦35

Eritrea: 1Nakata = ₦18

Ethiopia: 1Birr = ₦19

Ghana: 1Cedi

Nothing nothing




]Wetin SERAP don achive with there letters?[/quote]

The only thing they are good at is to drag opposition member

Though DOA but commendable on the part of SERAP....
Proactively calling out FG on issues like this is laudable.
All other Activists Organs in Nigeria seems to be in slumber since the emergence of this Terrorists Infested bunch of political actors in the helms of affairs and wicked Clueless administration.

@Seniorwriter

Everytime sharap or serap I have not even seen their achievement

The person we deemed a saviour turned a destroyer. How I wish we can change the hand of time. See where our desperation for good life take us. This Buhari will go down as the most incompetent president in the world history.

How many cases has serap won pls. They sued, they wrote, yet, nothing to show for it.

joelag:
APC

They did

As if bubu nor join thief am mtcheww

Omo these people dey cash out oh
Blood of buhari...Chia

You are wasting your time writing buhari, write the Presidency.. They are the ones in charge not buhari..

Untainted007:
Where has previous probes led to? It has always been no money missing. This country is a joke. SERAP or Sharrap ur mouth you mean to say. The corruption under this government is so worst than previous governments we had thought was the worst.

We are heading towards famine gradually....



Food is so expensive, but there was a enough stolen funds in the bank and some hidden at home

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President Buhari stole taxpayers money from TSA again o.

Nigerian presidency stealing taxpayers money on daily basis. Criminal Nigeria government and criminal presidency.

One hopes something positive will come out of the 'probes.'

Buhari is a corrupt un democratic dictator

This SERAP should stop wasting their time and disturbing people this their probe everything. I never see any were they secure a victory in all this their writing to Buhari. They should follow up even if is 1 or 2 cases and make sure that something come out of it than always writing to Buhari to probe and at the end buhari will use their letters as waste papers.

SERAP is doing a good job but the problem is that this administration doesn't rate anybody. They always exhibit this " after crying he will keep quiet" to SERAP's issues

Simplythebest:
This SERAP should stop wasting their time and disturbing people this their probe everything. I never see any were they secure a victory in all this their writing to Buhari. They should follow up even if is 1 or 2 cases and make sure that something come out of it than always writing to Buhari to probe and at the end buhari will use their letters as waste papers.

The issue here isn't SERAP but rather the Buhari administration that doesn't rate it. Like SERAP can do their worse, it doesnt concern the administration