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Auditing and the Nigerian Nemesis By When someone very honourable in 1982, by name Arthur Nwankwo, prophetically stated that debts are deliberately being borrowed for succeeding generations to pay back, many took this as an overstatement from a fellow countryman seeking attention. Decades after, we are beginning to witness not only more pilation of debts but also a palpable exhibition of capital recklessness and financial maladminstration.
While accountability in government remains an alien practice, proper auditing has now become an avenue for illogical contestation and baseless unison. If questions are not answered with questions, blackmail becomes the next available option by our officials.
Even in the face of crystal clear piece of information and obvious conniving, we are left with deafening silence from the powers that be. Ever thought if this happened in a private enterprise belonging to the likes of OBJ, Jerry Gana and Adamu Ciroma, what the reparcussions would be? What this could easily insinuate is that Chief Vincent Azie is nonetheless a hero for his bravado. His sense of patriotism is worthy of a national medal for rendering this embarrassing Audit Report public for our digestion and scrutiny.
The Audit Report 2001 came with a bang and it’s after effects are still lingering and waiting for a sound response at least from the Aso Rock. As covered by This Day Newspaper publication exactly a month ago, it is damning, implicating and raises doubt on the authenticity and efficacy of the anti-corrupt crusade pivoted by the current regime. It further reflects how corroding the accounting policies are, coupled with the stench of fiscal filth in the different federal parastatals. It is the epitome of corruption.
It signifies the more looming danger in our finances. It shows immense contempt for national bookkeeping. The wider picture we are made to understand is that if the central government is this laissez-faire, then the state and local government must be having a field day looting the treasury.
This really brings into suspicion the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) that is currently witch-hunting Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim while suspended Senator Arthur Francis Nzeribe roams freely despite his acceptance of distributing the millions of naira to forestall the OBJ impeachment threat. Francis Nzeribe is a notorious author of democratic chaos and his senate re-election bid under the banner of PDP is a blemish to our democratic organization.
Back to the prompt for this critique. After a critical study of the 19-page Audit report for 2001, they were numerous amazing discoveries that need addressing. The acting Auditor General of the Federation first of all explained that his office is the key agency for ensuring an acceptable level of public accountability. This is nothing but true. He went on and gave detailed summation of his findings starting with the Judiciary.
In this segment, sections D, E, G and H were of keen interest as it stated how a total of 110 payment vouchers were not made available for audit. The sums of monies involved is a staggering 154million naira. Also, in this same department on page three, shows that balances in the cashbook were written in pencil throughout the year despite the Auditor General’s repeated advise to the cashier to desist from the dirty act. For a body like ours (Association for Good Government and Accountability in Nigeria, AGAIN), this is very severe in these austere times Nigeria is facing and we request an immediate investigation or explanation for such criminal practices. It is totally unethical, unprofessional and catastrophic for any ministry and therefore call on the Attorney-General, Kanu Agabi (SAN) to make sure that all those involved face the full wrath of the law.
The Works and Transport sector was next in line especially when we remember the lamentations of OBJ after 300billion naira was spent on roads to no joy. This was a ministry that had a minister by nickname of Mr. Fix-It aka Tony Anenih. He fortunately does not need any further introduction. Under Capital Accounts, sections 1 and 2 display how payments totalling 960million naira were not entered into cashbook or supported by payment vouchers. Section 2 shows how on different occasions, different sums totalling 1.26billion naira were debited TWICE from the coffers. Acts like these are simply unthinkable and bereft of any account reconciliation logic. That these withdrawals are so deliberate is shocking and thought provoking. But the next bizarre act in the Transport bureau will leave you more baffled. Sections 2,3 and 4 illustrates how a Peugeot 504 Saloon car with no more than 60 litres tank capacity when empty was fuelled on 3 instances the same day in Abuja for 250 litres even when the said vehicle was in Abia State on that day. The next two days after, the same vehicle was claimed to have been filled for another 250 litres costing a whooping 11,000 naira in three days. It is on this note that we clamour that the all those responsible including the ex-minister be summoned to answer questions on these disturbing level of fraudulence.
The Education sector equally oozes a lot of muck. Here is where a contractor collected a total sum of 200million naira for exercise books supplied under the Universal Basic Education Programme. It is also an aberration that that the said contractor only supplied 30.2% of the books but was paid in full. The National Assembly was equally not spared of the collective federal mess.
For many, this has been a haven of crooks and political prostituting, but a lot must have been covered from the Auditor-General to depict them from well-deserved condemnation. That not withstanding, irregularities reminiscent of a House of Reps member being given 3million naira on payment voucher 264 of 23rd November 2001 to assist him in his wife’s burial is not only unconstitutional but illicit. Lastly in this breakdown, the payment of 2.14million naira to install Microsoft Excel and Adobe Extra software’s that normally come with a computer is silly and financially wacky to say the least. That people could devise such means to defraud the government and remain in office calls for an overhauling of the structure.
What we are collectively saying is that the report is as expository as Transparency International’s rating of Nigeria in corrupt circles. ICPC should not be an opium of harassing the real and imaginary enemies of OBJ. It should also investigate the grave allegations against Governor’s like Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State and the rest of the gang. They have received so much money and done next to nothing for their people in return. This Audit Report 2001 well presented by Vincent Azie needs government action, as any form of inaction shall be viewed as an acceptance of these obnoxious norms and values in government. This is the cankerworm eating deep into the fabrics of our financial prosperity as a nation. We have no business with poverty if our resources are well tapped and managed. We have no dealings with requesting for more loans when money is squandered with irresponsible foresight. This report implies that heads should roll for the wickedness and inefficiency made potent in high places.
Vincent Azie has played his part and the rest is up to those who should practice what they preach. This is what Good Governance and Accountability is about and nothing less. Let OBJ, Jerry Gana, Adamu Ciroma, ICPC face this music glowingly composed by Chief Vincent Azie and lead the album to top the charts in the year 2003. We are waiting to dance to its steps as this is now our nemesis… Uwem Inyang Interim Chairman (AGAIN, London)
Ayotunde Abudu Interim Secretary (AGAIN, London)
Leo Daniel Europe Co-ordinator (AGAIN, The Netherlands)
Clement Ikpatt Americas Co-ordinator (AGAIN, USA)
Tokunbo Ogunbiyi Trustee (AGAIN, London) Feb 2003
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