….As PAC Summons Minister of Finance, Budget Office, AGF
By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives has summoned the minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed, Director General Budget Office Ben Akabueze and Accountant General of the Federal Sylva Okolieaboh over paltry Budget Envelope of N62 million capital budget for the office of the Auditor General of the Federation.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House, Hon. Oluwole Oke, who issued the summon when the Acting Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF), Okwudili Andrew, appeared before the committee on Wednesday for the 2023 Budget defense, also rejected the 2023 Budget Proposal of the agency.
According to the Acting AuGF, Andrew the sum of N2.492 billion was appropriated for personnel cost for the year 2022 but N1.7 billion was released for the payment of salaries for the months of January to December, representing 72.03 percent. The balance of N697 million is outstanding for October to December 2022.
While the sum of N15.3 million was Internal Generated Revenue IGR for registration through existing firms and tender fees.
For the 2023 budget proposal the sum of N2.5 billion was proposed by the AuGF but the office was allocated a budget envelope of N62 million for capital projects.
Proposed Personnel cost for 2023 is N3 billion, others are office stationary/computer consumables N599.4 million, refreshments and meals N20 million among others.
But the Committee Chairman immediately declined considering the 2023 Budget proposal of the agency as they said the Minister of Finance, budget office and AGF must appear within one week to explain to Nigerians how the Office of AuGF is expected to operate in the year with such paltry amount.
According to Hon. Oke, the “AuGF cannot fight corruption with such a meagre amount”.
