Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
The ever shinning torchlight of this online media has again beamed on the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), a government agency tasked with addressing administrative injustices in Nigeria, following an audit report that uncovered irregularities in the engagement of staff for contract execution.
Our recent x-ray revealed that the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, in its 2021 Annual Report on Non-compliance (Vol. II), detailed findings that highlight breaches of public service regulations and potential financial mismanagement amounting to N438,902,438.00.
According to the audit report, the PCC awarded five contracts worth N438,902,438.00 for systemic and proactive investigations. However, in violation of the Public Service Rules (PSR), 2008, the Commission allegedly assigned its own staff members to conduct the investigations on behalf of the contractors.
Paragraph 030430 of the PSR explicitly prohibits public officers from engaging in private agency activities related to their official duties, while Paragraph 030425 forbids public officers from participating in private practice, except for specific exemptions granted to medical practitioners and law lecturers.
The audit findings pointed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the PCC, which allowed the mismanagement to occur. The report raised concerns that these anomalies could lead to the loss of government funds and the potential diversion of public resources.
In a brazen but repugnant act, we gathered that despite the gravity of the findings, the PCC management audaciously failed to provide a response to the audit report, forcing the auditors to assert that this lack of accountability further casts doubt on the agency’s commitment to transparency and adherence to financial regulations. As a result, the Auditor-General’s office maintains that the findings remain valid until the Commission takes corrective action.
In response to the irregularities, the audit report recommended that the Chief Commissioner of the PCC be held accountable for the N438,902,438.00 in question. The report advised that the sum be recovered and remitted to the national treasury. Additionally, the Chief Commissioner was directed to present evidence of remittance to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.
Failure to comply with these recommendations, the report warned, could lead to sanctions in accordance with Paragraphs 3106 and 3129 of the Financial Regulations, 2009. These sections prescribe punitive measures for irregular payments and gross misconduct, ensuring that public officials are held responsible for financial infractions.
