FUT Minna Records N21.3m in Financial Irregularities Under 2019 Review

Secrets Reporters

A review of the financial records of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, has revealed irregularities amounting to approximately N21.29 million during the 2019 financial period.

The review covered the tenure of the university’s former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Bala, who served as the institution’s seventh Vice-Chancellor from December 3, 2017, to 2022. 

Bala was therefore the head of the institution throughout the period under review. He was succeeded by the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta.

One of the issues was the non-submission of the university’s 2019 audited financial statements, contrary to Financial Regulations (FR) 2009, paragraph 3210(v). The failure was noted as capable of impeding Public Accounts Committee oversight and affecting governance decisions. In its response, management attributed the delay to the COVID-19 lockdown but stated that the accounts had subsequently been submitted.

Also discovered was ₦9 million in payments made without relevant supporting documents, citing FR 2009 paragraphs 708, 603(i) and 415. The payments were considered a risk for loss or diversion of government funds.

Management maintained that the payments, including two final-tranche payments of N1.8 million each, had supporting documents attached by the time of the review.

Another N4.91 million was flagged over the circumvention of procurement procedures, in breach of Treasury Circular TRY/A7&B7/2015 and FR 2009 paragraphs 2302(ii) and 1420. The practice was identified as creating risks of loss of government revenue, diversion of funds and difficulties in funding government programmes. 

Management said the practice of granting advances above the approval limit had been abolished and that such requests were thereafter required to go through a Job Order or Local Purchase Order.

The review further identified 30 unretired cash advances totalling N7.39 million granted in 2019, contrary to FR 2009 paragraphs 1405 and 1420(i). 

The outstanding advances were considered a risk to government resources and could facilitate diversion of public funds. Management said it had taken “stringent measures” to address the issue of unretired advances.