SERAP Accuses MDAs Of Corruption, Advocates For The Amendment Of The Audit Act

*323 government Agencies didn’t submit their reports to the Auditor General and also about 63 have never submitted at all – Dayo Olaide
*All heads of MDAs should be compelled to publicly declare their assets. – Segun Elemo
*MDAs has not been responsive to the people and that is not fair to the people and the country as a whole – Olaniyi Olaleye
*In 43 Years Of Its Existence, NNPC produced an audited account just once – Mr. Shina Fagbenro

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has said that corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, are major clog in the wheel of progress in the public service of the federation.

SERAP disclosed this during a media presentation on November 10 where it unveiled its findings on MDAs based on the 2017 report of Auditor General of the Federation.

The event, which was anchored by Ayo Makinde, featured a panel discussion and an interactive session on the theme; Above the law: “Why are authorities turning a blind eye to corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and its impact on public services in Nigeria”.

Amongst the invited guests were Director of National Orientation Agency(NOA), Lagos branch office, Mr Waheed Olalekan Ishola; The representative of the Auditor General of Federation; The  Deputy Director Mc Arthur Foundation in Nigeria, Mr. Dayo Olaide; and the Executive Director of Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), Segun Elemo.

The Deputy Director Of Mc Arthur Foundation, Mr. Dayo Olaide, expressed his joy by acknowledging the efforts of persons whom out of their busy schedules made it to the program. He listed some corrupt practices and how same can be ameliorated in the MDAs. He said the provision of the Nigerian constitution empowers the Auditor General of the Federation to make financial reports of all the governmental agencies and bodies and observed that the office of the Auditor-General is no more independent. While making reference to 2016 Auditor General’s report, he said about Three hundred and twenty-three (323) of the government Agencies didn’t submit their reports to the Auditor General and also about sixty-three (63) Agencies had never for once submitted their financial reports. While giving his good-will message, he said the event would state and call out the President and the Accountant General of Federation to live up to expectations of the masses.

He gave assurance that the Mc Arthur foundation is committed to eradicating corruption in every facets of our organizations in Nigeria.

During his presentation, Mr Segun Elemo, commenced by reiterating the importance of media in the society. He stated how the office of Auditor General has now been abused by always targeting the annual report on the decision and reports given by the Executive without a thorough investigation. He also stated that the lackadaisical attitude of government towards education has been a setback for the country and that the level corruption within University communities in Nigeria is alarming.

According to him, all Universities earn their capital and recurrent budgets from the Federal government and receive tuition fees from students without having a capital project executed in their respective campuses save they wait for government’s intervention.

Using University of Ibadan as an example, Elemo said when the school was being called upon to make their audit and send to the Auditor General of Federation, the University management gave an excuse that the school Bursar went blind and as such, nothing came out of the request.

He also made mention of the mismanagement of public funds in the National Examination Council(NECO) where #7.2 Billlion naira was traced to the management of the agency to have no report nor was it utilized for a project within the agency. The said fund was to be used in procuring certificates and ledgers. Hence, all these scandals doesn’t always reflect in the Auditor General’s reports.

Mr Elemo proposed that there should be modern audit law to replace the outdated 1960 Audit Act which is not in tune with the current happenings in Nigeria.

He concluded that in the 2017 report, #9.8 Billion naira was not accounted and as such, some mechanisms are needed to be put in place to fight against corruption before the president hands over in 2023. He also made the following recommendations:

a- Immediate and stringent sanctions

b- Establishing an independent commission of inquiry with subpoena power to conduct a transparent, comprehensive and impartial investigation into systematic corruption within ministries, Departments and Agencies.

c- Prosecution without delay and according to international fair trial standards of anyone implicated in corruption and other serious abuses in MDAs.

d- All heads of MDAs should be compelled to publicly declare their assets.

During the panel session, one of the panelists, Mr. Olaniyi Olaleye, stated that Nigerians only focus on the corruption at the top without looking at the corrupt practices amongst “ourselves” and misappropriation of funds at the local government and state level. He stated that Nigeria continues to take loan from other countries and In fact got itself disgraced to have gone to request for a loan in Brazil while we always have no account on capital expenditures as to what the loan has always been used for.

He also lamented that MDAs have not been responsive to the people and that is not fair to the people and the country as a whole.

Also, a panelist, Mr. Shina Fagbenro in his own opinion said NNPC is the largest source of revenue in Nigeria. In 43 years, NNPC just produced an audited account and the first account was produced in June, 2020. It was produced due to FG’s request for loan from IMF which was a condition for getting loan from IMF.

Mr Elemo opined during the session that the NNPC should be treated same way FIRS is being treated. NNPC shouldn’t be forced to make a report before they give their report.

Mr Olaleye noted finally that the National Assembly gets 97% from allocations. Hence, they should also make a public budget stating that the only time we had the senate published her budget was in 2017 during the time of Dr. Bukola Saraki.

He concluded on the paramount need of accountability on the part of the legislature.