ReportsNG
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the government agency established to engage and represent the interests of Nigerians living abroad, recorded ₦1,408,594,088.82 in financial irregularities across thirteen findings in its 2023 financial year, according to a review by ReportsNG under the leadership of Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The findings were dominated by procurement and contract-related irregularities, including awards to companies with expired documents, circumvention of procurement procedures, payments for contracts without evidence of execution, awards to contractors without valid documentation and contracts split to circumvent approval thresholds.
The largest single finding was ₦356,383,349.15, which was awarded to companies whose documents had expired at the time the contracts were awarded.
The requirement for valid and current documentation in public procurement is provided under the Public Procurement Act 2007, making the award of contracts to companies with expired documents a breach of the procurement requirements.
Furthermore, ₦340,827,119.00 was found to have involved outright circumvention of procurement procedures, contrary to the procurement procedures established under the Public Procurement Act 2007.
In another finding, ₦209,085,405.00 was paid for contracts for which there was no evidence that the underlying works were executed.
Additionally, ₦165,291,775.00 was awarded to contractors without valid documents. The finding, like the ₦356.38 million involving expired documents, contravenes the documentation requirements under the Public Procurement Act 2007.
More so, ₦137,524,353.00 in contracts was split to circumvent the applicable approval threshold. Contract splitting to evade procurement approval thresholds is prohibited under the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The review further found that ₦91,902,975.00 was awarded to contractors who lacked the financial capacity to execute the contracts. The requirement to establish the financial and technical capacity of contractors before award is also contained in the Public Procurement Act 2007.
Additionally, ₦48,905,092.00 in payments was found to have violated the Federal Government’s e-payment policy, which requires government payments to be made through approved electronic payment channels.
Also identified was ₦20,548,308.00 in cash advances granted above the approved limit, contrary to the applicable provisions of the Financial Regulations 2009 governing government advances.
Furthermore, ₦16,433,627.77 in taxes was under-deducted, resulting in another financial irregularity recorded against the Commission. The review also found ₦15,600,000.00 in misapplied funds, while ₦6,092,083.90 was overpaid to contractors.
Separately, the Commission failed to submit its audited financial statements for the 2023 financial year as required by law. The failure contravened Section 23(3) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, which requires audited financial statements to be submitted within three months after the end of the financial year.
Another finding concerned government vehicles recorded in the Commission’s accounts but which could not be sighted during physical verification. The failure to account for or produce government assets for physical verification also contravenes Paragraph 2001 of the Financial Regulations 2009, which governs accountability for government assets.
