By Nathaniel Zacchaeus
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, has said that documents used to request and got approval letters for the collection of N2.2bn Service Wide Vote were missing.
She stated this when she appeared before the Senate Public Accounts Committee.
The panel Chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, expressed surprise at her disclosure.
SPAC had last month mandated the Ministry of Justice to submit documents relating to the approval of N2.2bn from Service Wide Vote between 2017 and 2021.
Appearing before the lawmakers yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, who is also the Solicitor General of the Federation, said the Finance and Account Department in the Ministry checked everywhere but the documents could not be seen lamenting that it is quite unfortunate.
She explained to the lawmakers that it was certain that the request was made by the Ministry before the money could be released.
The Permanent Secretary said, “They have checked the relevant documents, but they can’t find it. It is quite unfortunate.
“The Departments of Finance and Account are responsible. I can assure you that this request was made.
“We could not find any document probably as a result of record keeping, they could not find the request and approval letters.”
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Disturbed by the submission of the Permanent Secretary, the Chairman said that the Committee had yet to see any letter of request and approval and this will only mean extra-budgetary spending.
He said, “Who gave the approval, we have not seen any letter of approval/request. It only means extra-budgetary spending.
“I think we are magnanimous enough in this Committee, what this means is inept, it is not nice that you cannot find the approval and request letters. The recommendations of the Committee will not be nice.”
The Committee, therefore, ordered the Ministry to provide the documents by Thursday next week, December 1, 2022.
