The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee will question NNPCL and INEC officials over alleged N802.19bn financial breaches.
The committee will hold the sessions on Monday and Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex. Its review covers Auditor-General reports for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
A committee member told The PUNCH that NNPCL faces questions over alleged N514bn financial infractions. INEC, meanwhile, will explain alleged breaches worth N288.19bn.
“Tuesday is special because we hope to have in the House the accounting officers and subject matter experts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.
NNPCL faces N514bn audit queries
According to the audit findings, NNPCL allegedly made irregular deductions of N343.64bn from domestic crude oil sales.
The report also flagged N83.66bn allegedly kept in a sinking fund account. Another N82.95bn allegedly involved unauthorised deductions from Federation revenue.
In addition, auditors reportedly identified a N3.75bn shortfall from petroleum product sales.
The committee will demand documents and explanations from NNPCL over the transactions. However, an audit query does not automatically prove wrongdoing.
INEC to explain election spending
INEC will also answer questions about procurement, contractor payments and statutory deductions.
The queries cover transactions under former INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who has since become an ambassador.
“There are several audit queries concerning procurement procedures, payments made to contractors as well as failure to remit statutory deductions,” the lawmaker said.
He added that questions would cover money spent from the 2019 general election.
The Auditor-General’s 2022 report also alleged that INEC paid N5.31bn for smart card readers. The payment reportedly lacked prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement.
Meanwhile, the committee will question several other government agencies on Tuesday. They include the National Mathematical Centre and National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency.
The PAC says its role is to examine audit findings and demand accountability from public institutions.
