The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the Federal College of Education (FCE), Okene, Kogi State, to refund ₦305.47 million to the Federal Government. The order follows alleged financial infractions contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2021-2023 Audit Reports. The committee decided on Monday after examining responses from college officials to several audit queries. The queries bordered on procurement, contract payments and compliance with financial regulations.
The Auditor-General’s annual reports routinely flag infractions across federal agencies. In 2023, the reports identified over ₦1 trillion in questionable transactions. Recovery is rare. The Public Accounts Committee investigates and recommends sanctions. Enforcement is weak. The current case is one of several. The committee also sent NMDPRA officials back for lacking authorisation to represent their CEO. It gave HyPREP a seven-day ultimatum over ₦400 billion in audit queries.
One query concerned ₦59.07 million spent on office furniture. The expenditure was confirmed through a GIFMIS printout. The audit report observed that documents required to establish the procurement process were not provided. “The date of contract award could not be ascertained, as the letter of award, procurement files and payment vouchers were not provided for audit examination,” the report stated. “There was no evidence of compliance with procurement due process such as Tenders’ Board approval.” A similar issue was identified in the renovation of the college’s hostel building, with the contract valued at ₦246.4 million. The report also queried a subsequent payment of ₦53.8 million over alleged non-compliance. The committee sustained the queries after the Acting Bursar, Omole Alaba, failed to provide satisfactory explanations. The panel questioned the validity of a Tenders’ Board meeting said to have approved contracts, after establishing the meeting was held on a Sunday. The committee described the claim as a “fallacy.” It also observed inconsistencies in documents submitted by the institution.
Winners: The committee, which asserts oversight. The Auditor-General, whose findings are sustained. Taxpayers, if the funds are recovered. Losers: FCE Okene management, which faces a refund order. The Acting Bursar, whose explanations failed. The college, whose internal controls are exposed. The system, if recovery is not enforced.
Bottom Line: The House ordered FCE Okene to refund ₦305 million. The audit queries were sustained. The college failed to explain its procurement. The committee did its job. Recovery is the test. Without enforcement, the order is a press release.