Auditors General's Office Begins Audit Of NNPC's Account

BEVERLY HILLS, February 27, (THEWILL) -  The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) has commenced auditing the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ascertain the true state of the finances of the corporation.

The Auditor General of the Federation, Mr.
Samuel Ukura who disclosed this Thursday at a budget defence session at with House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts said  20 officers trained specifically in auditing gas and oil related issues are carrying out the assignment.

The Auditor General told the committee that the 20 officers received the training in   2013 in line with the provisions of the budget.

President Goodluck Jonathan in his last media chat assured the nation that accounts of the NNPC would be audited and details made known to the public.

Also, the  Senate Committee investigating the missing $20 billion oil money has already made case for a forensic audit of the NNPC's account.

'We had a budget of N60 million for training and we were able to train 20 officers who are presently on the field auditing the accounts of NNPC,' he said.

The Auditor General who was commended by the committee for mopping up N100.

1 million unspent funds meant for the purchase of vehicles also disclosed that the contractors, Innoson Motors failed to supply vehicles as at December 31, 2013.

He explained that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had issued his office with a 'letter of no objection' directing him to award the contract for the purchase of vehicles to Innoson Motors.

According to him, since the vehicles were not supplied, no money was paid for them, adding that the contractor was reminded through series of letters but   did not comply.

He disclosed that the office was only able to buy five  Hilux pick up vans and one   Prado jeep at the cost of N49.

9 million out of the N180 million initially earmarked for the purchase of vehicles.

On the budget performance for 2013, Ukura told the committee that the recurrent was implemented 100 percent while the capital budget was implemented only 57.

7 percent amounting to N374.
157 million.
The Auditor General also denied knowledge of N200 million allegedly given to his office from the Service Wide Votes (SWV) by the Budget Office of the Federation.

The committee however expressed dismay with the AGF for some mix up in the report he presented to it Consequently, chairman of the committee, Hon.

Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos) ordered the AGF to submit all payment vouchers and receipts of payments and contracts awarded and re-appear before the committee next Tuesday.

The committee also summoned the director general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr.

Emeka Eze to appear before it next Tuesday and shed light on the vehicle purchase.

The suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had alleged that the NNPC failed to remit about $20 billion to the federation government coffers.

Also a report by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Initiatives (NEITI)  said the NNPC was holding  on to $22.

8 million due to the Federation.