Reps Grills Immigration Service Over N19.2bn Audit Queries

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has subjected the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to intense scrutiny over financial irregularities amounting to N19.2 billion, spanning contract awards and failure to submit audited accounts for nearly a decade.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Bamidele Salam, raised concerns over eight unresolved audit queries contained in the Auditor General’s reports for 2020 and 2021.

It also queried air jordan 4 military blue 2024 the service over its utilisation of Service-Wide Votes and remittance of operating surplus.

Salam disclosed that the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) had reported that the NIS had failed to submit its audited accounts from 2014 to 2023, making it impossible to determine its financial liabilities and remittance obligations.

He described the development as a gross violation of financial regulations and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Further investigation by the committee revealed that the NIS had awarded a contract worth N2,010,080,759.65 to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited for the furnishing of its Technology Building at its Abuja headquarters.

However, this contract was allegedly awarded above the service’s approved threshold without obtaining adidas for big and tall 3 stripes tricot pants size – SchaferandweinerShops KR – ‘Superstar Boot’ sneakers adidas for Originals necessary approvals from the Federal Executive air jordan 3 black cement 2024 Council (FEC) and the Parastatal Tender Board.

According to documents presented before the lawmakers, the NIS received a total of N6.1 billion from the federal government between Nike Air Max 2 Light Womens shoe CK2602-101 SUMMIT WHITE COSMIC FUCHSIA 2021 and 2023, comprising N2 billion for capital expenditure and N4.1 billion for recurrent expenditure.

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However, the committee observed that financial mismanagement plagued the disbursement of these funds.

The committee also uncovered that a payment of N1.7 billion was made to Julius Berger for the project, yet the required stamp duty was not deducted from the transaction.

Representing the Controller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, at the hearing, Deputy Controller General Mrs Ada James admitted that the stamp duty, valued at N15 million, had indeed not been deducted.

She further explained that the N4.1 billion allocated for recurrent expenses was transferred into the service’s account on 30th December 2022, only to be mopped up a day later.

The N2 billion, she clarified, was used to settle debts owed to domestic contractors.

Unimpressed by the explanations, the PAC ordered the NIS to recover and remit the N15 million stamp duty to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) within seven days, with proof of remittance to be presented to the committee.

Additionally, the committee gave the NIS the same seven-day deadline to provide evidence of its audited account submissions from 2014 to 2023.

The service was also directed to submit proof of FEC approval for the N2 billion contract awarded to Julius Berger, amid suspicions of procedural breaches.