News

National Assembly Fails To Account For N9 Billion – Audit Report

Published

9 years ago

September 12, 2016

The National Assembly management failed to account for a total expenditure of over N9.4 billion in 2014, the latest audit report has revealed.

The money included N9.39 billion for which no “documentary evidence” was provided and a N47 million to be returned to government coffers out of which only N360,000 was returned; giving a total of N9,440,844,572 (nine billion, four hundred and forty million, eight hundred and four thousand, five hundred and seventy two Naira).

The audit report of government bodies (2009-2014) was submitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly in March 2016 as statutorily provided. The full contents were recently publicly disclosed by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation on its website.

The report indicted several government bodies of illegal and profligate spending, and failing to remit over N3 trillion into government’s treasury.

Apart from the National Assembly, other key bodies indicted include the state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ministry of Interior, the Presidency, Central Bank of Nigeria and some foreign missions.

According to the report, between January and December, 2014 under the leadership of David Mark as Senate President and Salisu Maikasuwa as the Clerk, the Management Department of the National Assembly Commission transferred N9,392,995,515.00 (Nine billion, three hundred and ninety-two million, nine hundred and ninety-five thousand, five hundred and fifteen naira) from the general services account to other accounts in different banks.

The purposes stated for the transfer include Senate General Services, Appropriation, Constitutional Review, House of Representatives Services, UNDP Projects and Research Office Services.

However, “no expenditure returns or documentary evidence were rendered to account for how these sums were expended,” the report said, raising question of accountability and legality.

In another case, the report disclosed that the National Assembly management remitted only N360,000, out of a N47 million balance of total personnel vote release and actual expenditure for 2014.

“It was further observed that the total Personnel Vote release for the year 2014 was N1,856,510,517.00 (One billion, eight hundred and fifty-six million, five hundred and ten thousand, five hundred and seventeen naira), and the Actual Expenditure for the same period was N1,808,661,460.18 (One billion, eight hundred and eight million, six hundred and sixty-one thousand, four hundred and sixty naira, eighteen kobo), resulting in a balance of N47,849,057.00 (Forty-seven million, eight hundred and forty-nine thousand, fifty-seven naira).

“However, only an amount of N360,115.08 (Three hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and fifteen naira, eight kobo) was paid back to treasury at the end of the year.”

No Denial

In May – after the audit report had been submitted to the National Assembly, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts led by Andy Uba (PDP-Anambra) held a public hearing during which a number of government bodies refuted certain findings of the audit report, particularly the disclosure that they didn’t submit their internal audit reports between 2009 and 2014.

Some of the bodies that challenged aspects of the report were CBN, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Nigeria Pension Commission.

However, the National Assembly has not denied the findings of the audit report as they related to the lawmaking body – though its committee castigated the then Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukara, for an “unsatisfactory report”, cashing in on complaints by other government bodies.

The law says the National Assembly should refer the audit report to its committee on Public Accounts for consideration.

After considering the report, the committee is empowered to pass a resolution to either publish the report in the National Assembly journal or government’s official gazette.

Since the committee considered the report, it has not passed the resolution for its publication in either channel.

Efforts to reach Mr. Uba for comments were not fruitful. He did not pick calls to his phone or reply to text message.

News

Akpabio Removes Natasha Akpoti as Chairman of The Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

lagoslately

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has made a major change in the leadership of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been removed as the Chair of the committee, and a new replacement has been named immediately.

Although no official explanation was given at the time of the announcement, the development has sparked conversations in political circles. Senator Natasha, known for her passion in representing diaspora-related matters, has not yet reacted publicly.

Foreign

Newly Married Liverpool Striker Diogo Jota Dies at 28

Published

1 week ago

July 3, 2025

lagoslately

The football world is in deep mourning following the sudden passing of Diogo Jota, star striker for Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team. He was just 28 years old.

Jota lost his life in a tragic road incident in Spain alongside his younger brother in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, 2025.

The devastating news comes less than two weeks after his wedding to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, which took place on June 22, 2025. The couple shared three children and had just begun a new chapter together.

Since joining Liverpool in 2020, Jota became a fan favorite for his sharp instincts, energy, and goal-scoring brilliance. He also proudly represented Portugal on the international stage, winning hearts with his commitment and character.

This is a heartbreaking loss for his family, friends, teammates, and the entire football community.

Rest in peace, Diogo Jota.
You will never walk alone. ❤️

News

Tinubu Appoints Grace Henry as First Female Chair of Nigerian Legion

Published

2 weeks ago

June 27, 2025

lagoslately

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Grace Henry as the new chairman of the National Council of the Nigerian Legion, marking a historic first as both the first woman and the first non-commissioned officer to lead the country’s foremost veterans’ organization.

The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja via a statement by Abdul Lauya, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Digital Communications to the chairman.

According to the statement, Henry’s appointment was formalized through a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and takes effect from June 7.

Born on October 5, 1964, Henry brings with her over 25 years of military and administrative experience. She retired from the Nigerian Army in 2000 and most recently served as Director of Corporate Affairs at the Legion’s headquarters in Abuja. She is also the current National Coordinator for Female Military Veterans of Nigeria.

She succeeds retired Major General AbdulMalik Jibrin. Her appointment is widely seen as a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and equal representation within the military veterans’ community.

President Tinubu expressed confidence in her leadership and urged her to leverage her experience to reposition the Nigerian Legion, which serves as a vital support system for the nation’s ex-servicemen and women.

Her appointment is expected to usher in a new era of reforms and revitalization for the Legion amid growing calls for improved veteran welfare and institutional development.

The Nigerian Legion, a statutory body established to support the welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, plays a critical role in the rehabilitation, reintegration, and economic empowerment of military veterans. It also promotes national unity through remembrance events such as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day and collaborates with various agencies to uphold the dignity of retired military personnel.

In response to certain media reports describing her as “one of the most powerful non-commissioned ex-service personnel,” Henry distanced herself from the characterization.

“She wishes to make it clear that leadership is not about grandstanding or media posturing,” Lauya stated. “There is no such thing as being ‘most powerful’ under her leadership.”

Henry emphasized that the Legion remains a unified body, representing all veterans—commissioned and non-commissioned—without bias or division. She condemned any effort to create artificial hierarchies within the organization and called on the media to refrain from spreading unverified claims.

“She remains committed to the principles of unity, service, and integrity,” the statement added. “Ms. Grace Morenike Henry belongs to all and to none in particular. Her mission is to serve all Nigerian veterans equally and selflessly.”