By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate, following the consideration of the report of the Auditor General for the Federation, has directed the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and his commissioners to refund to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the sum of N594m vehicle allowances some of the agency’s officials collected.
The action was sequel to the failure of the affected officials of the Commission to defend the allegations raised in the 2018 report of the Auditor General for the Federation.
The officials of the Commission failed to appear after a series of letters of invitation were sent to them.
They were requested to defend the allegations before the Senate Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide.
The Commission made a written submission to the Senate panel, but its officials failed to make a physical appearance.
The Senate approved the report of its panel at plenary.
The red chamber was left with no other option than to sustain the position of Auditor General for the Federation on the allegations.
It had since been forwarded to the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The query reads, “In 2013, the Director-General, while serving as Executive Commissioner, was paid the sum of N39m as monetised car allowances to run for four years, but two years, on his appointment as Director General, he was again paid the sum of N84m as monetised car allowances.
“In 2015, the Commission procured four project vehicles to meet its need at the sum of N144m, but instead of making use of the vehicles for purposes they were acquired, the Director General and Commissioners turned them to their sole uses, which contravened Chapter 9 (1)&(11) of the Commission’s condition of service.
“Also, the sum of N469m was further expended on the payment of the monetized motor vehicle insurance in 2015 and 2016.
“Given the foregoing, payment of N39m in 2013 and N84m in 2015, totaling N124m to the Director-General were not proper and cannot be considered as proper charges against Public funds.”
The Senate therefore approved the position of the Auditor General asking the Director-General to refund N124m paid to him.
He was also asked to recover the sum of N469m expended on the payment of monetized motor vehicle allowances and motor insurance allowances from the beneficiaries and pay to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and forward the payment details to the Office of Auditor General.
The report of the Public Accounts Committee was upheld by the Senate which indicted the Commission.
