₦367.99m in Financial Irregularities Uncovered in FCT Social Development Secretariat Under the Leadership of Hajiya Safiya Umar

Secrets Reporters

A investigation of the financial activities of the FCT Social Development Secretariat, Abuja, for 2020 under the leadership of Hajiya Safiya Umar, has identified about ₦367.99 million in financial irregularities across four issues, including the payment of ₦165.49 million into a personal account for a National Sports Festival that was cancelled because of COVID-19.

The findings also revealed that ₦130.22 million in paid vouchers was withheld from the review, while store items worth ₦67.28 million purchased through cash advances were not entered in the appropriate store ledger.

According to the review findings, ₦5 million was paid on 31 December 2020 for the urgent repairs and replacement of stolen items at the FCT NYSC Secretariat, but supporting documents for the expenditure were not produced. The review found that no paid voucher, itemised list of the stolen items or police report was presented to substantiate the payment. Violating paragraphs 601, 708, 603(i) and 415 of the Financial Regulations 2009.

Also, the review further found that 112 paid vouchers totalling ₦130,219,452 were not presented for examination. The vouchers reportedly covered payments made to various beneficiaries but were withheld from the review process. The actions is in contrast to Section 85(2) of the Constitution and paragraph 601 of the Financial Regulations 2009, with the review identifying the risk of loss of government funds and payment for unapproved expenditure.

In another finding, store items worth ₦67,278,640 purchased through cash advances were not taken on ledger charge. According to the review, the items were acquired but were not entered into the store ledger, contrary to paragraphs 2402(1) and 2107 of the Financial Regulations 2009.

The most significant finding involved ₦165,488,599 released for the 20th National Sports Festival, which was not returned to the Treasury after the event was cancelled. The review found that two payments totalling ₦165,488,599 were made into the personal account of the Acting Secretary/Director of Sports, an official who held both positions simultaneously, for the sports festival scheduled to take place in Edo State from 20 March to 3 April 2020.

However, the National Sports Festival did not take place following the outbreak of COVID-19. Despite the cancellation, the review found no evidence that the advance was retired or that the unspent funds were returned to the Treasury. It further noted that there was no evidence of retirement even when the official subsequently exited the Secretariat.

This goes against paragraphs 1405 and 1420(i) of the Financial Regulations 2009, which govern the retirement and treatment of advances and unspent public funds.

Taken together, the four individual amounts specified in the review findings total ₦367,986,691, or approximately ₦367.99 million.

The review findings relate to the financial activities of the FCT Social Development Secretariat during 2020, under the leadership of Hajiya Safiya Umar