The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation has indicted the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development of enabling the Minister, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, and some other staff members to embark on “familiarisation visits” to unnamed skill acquisition centres in selected states in 2015.
The report became public less than 48 hours after the Minister was caught on tape declaring support for former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to emerge in 2019 as the country’s president.
Alhassan, who lost the 2015 governorship election in Taraba State, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as minister.
According to the report, part of the funds was spent on November 11, 2015, the day Alhassan was officially sworn-in.
The report stated: “Audit investigation established that the purported acclaimed appraisal visits to skill acquisition centres were never undertaken.”
Details of the report further showed irregularities in payment processes, record keeping and dating of the said visits.
The audit committee observed: “All the attached receipts for fuelling did not indicate quantity in litres, the rate per litre, dates of purchase and vehicle number of the fuelled vehicles.
“The International hotel receipt of 23/11/15 which was issued for the hiring of a mini-bus from a hotel to unnamed project sites rendered the receipts doubtful.
“Hiring of cars to Project Sites at ridiculous rates of between N75,000.00 and N77,000.00 for two days as appeared on receipts numbers 910 of 22/11/15, 107 of 24/11/15, 0416 of 27/11/15, 531 of 25/11/15, is contrary to exercise of the due economy in line with the provision of Financial Regulation 415.
“Receipt number 5206 of 11/11/2015, the date the Minister was sworn in by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and receipt number 11622 of 8th of November, 2015 with amount N100,000.00 respectively are not clear. The two receipts were for servicing of a vehicle two times within 3 days.”
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