Members of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts have expressed surprise as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, B.E. Jeddy, said documents pertaining to request and approval letters for the collection of N2.2 billion Service Wide Vote is missing
This was revealed when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry appeared before the Committee on Tuesday.
The Committee, chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, had last month mandated the Ministry of Justice to submit documents relating to the approval of N2.2 billion from Service Wide Vote between 2017 and 2021.
But appearing before the lawmakers on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary said the Finance and Account Department in the Ministry checked everywhere, but the documents could not be found.
Jeddy lamented that it was quite unfortunate.
She told the lawmakers that it was certain the request was made by the Ministry before the money was released.
The Permanent Secretary said: “They have checked the relevant documents, they can’t find it.
“It is quite unfortunate.
“The Department of Finance and Account is responsible.
“I can assure that this request was made.
“We could not find any document probably as a result of record keeping.
“They could not find the request and approval letters.”
Disturbed by the submission of the Permanent Secretary, the Chairman said that the Committee was yet to see any letter of request and approval and this will only mean extra budgetary spending.
Urhoghide said: “Who gave the approval?
“We have not seen any letter of approval/request.
“It only means extra-budgetary spending.
“I think we are magnanimus enough in this Committee.
“What this means is ineptitude.
“It is not nice that you cannot find the approval and request letters.
“The recommendations of the Committee will not be nice.”
The Committee therefore ordered the Ministry to provide the documents by December 1, 2022.
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