Senate, EFCC at loggerheads as upper chamber reveals that anti-graft agency has not submitted audits for years; takes tough action in retaliation

- The Senate has disclosed that the EFCC, BOI and other agencies have not submitted their audits to the auditor-general of the federation for years

- Consequently, the red chamber has resolved to stop further budgetary approval for the erring parastastals and agencies until they take the necessary steps

- The Senate Committee on Public Accounts urged parastalas and agencies to use one of the three auditors recommended by the AGF to audit their accounts

The Senate has issued a deadline of May 2018 to all government parastatals and agencies that have not submitted their audited reports and accounts for the past two years to the auditor-general of the federation (AGF), Vanguard reports.

The upper legislative chamber has also resolved to stop further budgetary approval for the erring parastastals and agencies until they do as directed.

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NAIJ.com gathers that the red chamber stated that by their action, these parastatals had contravened Section 85 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Senate disclosed that the status of compliance showed that while 47 parastatals have fully complied up to 2016; 85 have not submitted since inception and four are in arrears of 11 years and above.

Furthermore, 17 are in arrears of between six and 10 years; 103 are in arrears of between three and five years and 235 are in arrears of between one and two years.

According to the Senate, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture are among the agencies which have never submitted their audited reports to the AGF since inception.

The Senate’s decision came following the consideration of the Committee on Public Accounts, led by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP-Edo South).

Urhogide stated: “EFCC is of the opinion that once they come for budget defence, it amounts to submitting their audited reports. The EFCC Act itself says they have to submit their audited reports six months into the financial year.”

He called on the parastalas and agencies to use one of the three auditors recommended by the AGF to audit their accounts.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Senate urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately terminate the appointment of Ibrahim Magu who currently serves as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The upper chamber warned that it would henceforth not attend to nominations from the presidency if Magu is not sacked.

The Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, speaking to journalists, maintained that the Senate will not change its position on the acting EFCC chairman.

The EFCC stages a walk against corruption - on NAIJ.com TV:

Source: Naija.ng

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