HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES URGES EFCC, ICPC TO PROBE 2 FORMER PERMANENT SECRETARIES OVER N3.2B FRAUD 10-02-25
By Sadiq Aminu The House of Representatives has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, IPCC to invite two former Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa over N3.2b financial infraction while in office.
The committee gave the directive during its investigative hearing.
The House Committee on Public Account gave the directive during its investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex Abuja.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Bamidele Salam emphasized that Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa who were the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry when the infraction took place should be held liable for the infraction since they were the accounting officers in the ministry.
The Committee also decried the increasing disregard for parliament by Ministries, Department and Agencies of government by refusing to honour invitations to respond to audit queries issued by the Auditor General for the Federation.
Mr. Bamidele Salami who announced the resolution of the Committee explained that the Committee has written seven different letters to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to appear before the committee without any response and without giving any reason for not appearing.
Mr. Salam said the Ministry also failed to provide the relevant documents needed to clear them of the 32 audit queries against them from the 2020 audit report.
The Committee Chairman said although the Auditor General for the Federation made specific recommendations, the Committee decided to write the Ministry, giving them an opportunity to defend themselves, adding that the Minister has consistently refused to honour the invitation.
According to Salam, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had to issue a statement against some MDAs for their refusal to appear, adding that the House Committee will not continue to waste its time inviting agencies that will not respect the constitutional authority of the National Assembly.
The committee also gave the current Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Saliu Usman 72 hours to appear before them to respond to the seven audit queries from the Auditor General for the 2021 financial year or risk having the committee upholding the recommendations of the Auditor General.
The Permanent Secretaries in the Federal ministries of Transportation, Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, Adeleye Ayodeji, Mariam Keshero and Yakubu Adams Kofamata respectively are also to appear before the committee within the next 72 hours.