By Disun Amosun
House of Representatives special Ad-hoc Committee investigating the fuel subsidy regime in the country has summoned the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) to appear in person before it on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 to provide documentary evidences on the audit carried out on the monies used by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited for payment of fuel subsidy between 2013 and 2022.
The lawmakers also directed the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to provide relevant financial transactions on the fuel subsidy for the period under review.
Committee Chairman, Rep Ibrahim Aliyu issued the notice in Abuja during the scrutiny of documents submitted by representative of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Okolieaboh Sylvia who was represented on the occasion by the Director overseeing Federation Accounts, Mr. Mohammed Saleh.
In the bid to ensure fair hearing as enshrined in the Constitution, the Committee chaired by Hon. Aliyu is expecting the Accountant General of the Federation on September 8, 2022 with relevant documents.
Committee member, Rep Isiaka Ibrahim in his contribution tasked the Auditor General of the Federation on the need to have an independent monitoring mechanism to verify the figures and transactions submitted to it by federal Agencies.
He also expressed the need for the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure due diligence by verifying the transaction documents submitted by all government agencies in line with its functions as spelt out in the Act establishing the office.
On his part, Hon. Mark Gbillah after thorough scrutiny of the documents identified some discrepancies in the amount computed in the NNPC documents.
While speaking, Hon. Aliyu explained that the House mandated the Ad-hoc Committee to ensure effectiveness of the fuel subsidy regime, scrutinize payment to petroleum marketers which it will carry out effectively.
