The Senate has issued a one week ultimatum to Ministries, Departments and Agencies that have failed to show up after their summon to do so or have their 2023 budget cut down.
The decision followed a Point of Order raised by Matthew Urhoghide, chairman of the public accounts committee.
Over 100 of them had failed to appear before the red chamber to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General’s report.
According to the report, from 2015 till date, the Auditor General indicted some MDAs for queries like frivolous spendings, misappropriation of funds, inability to account for money spent, payment of salaries to dead or retired staff, among others.
The ministries affected includes: Ministries of Interior, Finance, Health Information, Foreign Affairs, Women Affairs, Communications and Special Duties.
Others are: the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, State House, AMCON, NHIS, NEDC, INEC, Debt Management Office, NEMA, NAFDAC, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Works and Housing, among others.
Quoting orders 42 and 95, the lawmaker noted that the indicted MDAs have repeatedly ignored letters of invitation and summons sent out by the committee. He said they have failed to respond to queries raised by the Auditor General.
Urhoghide recalled that they are empowered by the Constitution and their Standing Orders to summon the indicted MDAs through arrest warrants or demand from the Senate President. He therefore prayed that they exercise their power.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan while responding to the motion raised said, any public officer who accepts to serve and use public funds, must be prepared to account for the funds. And anyone who feels he is above the law, should quit.
Also, mentioned the names of over 100 of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies and gave them one week ultimatum to reach out to the public accounts committee and fix a date for hearing.
“If any of them fail to do so, with no communication or verifiable reason, we will slash their 2023 budget.”
