By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate two former Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, over alleged financial irregularities amounting to ₦3,201,583,662.65 during their tenure.
At a hearing yesterday, the committee condemned the growing disregard for legislative oversight by government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), many of which have consistently failed to respond to audit queries from the Auditor General for the Federation.
Committee Chairman Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) expressed frustration over the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment’s refusal to appear before the committee despite receiving seven different invitations.
“We have written to the Ministry on seven occasions, yet they have neither appeared before the committee nor provided any explanation for their absence,” Salam stated.
He further noted that the ministry had failed to submit relevant documents to clear itself of 32 audit queries raised in the 2020 audit report.
Salam emphasised that the Auditor General had made specific recommendations regarding the financial infractions, prompting the committee to contact the ministry for clarification. However, the Minister of Labour and Employment has repeatedly ignored the committee’s invitations.
“It is now a disturbing trend that several MDAs have developed the habit of disregarding parliamentary summons. This raises concerns about accountability for public funds appropriated by the National Assembly,” he lamented.
Salam pointed out that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had recently issued a statement condemning certain MDAs for their refusal to appear before the legislature.
“We will not continue to waste time inviting agencies that do not respect the constitutional authority of the National Assembly,” he warned.
Given their roles as accounting officers during the alleged infractions, Salam declared that Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa should be held accountable.
The committee has also given Saliu Usman, the current Permanent Secretary of the Labour Ministry, 72 hours to appear and respond to seven audit queries from the 2021 financial year. Failure to do so will result in the committee upholding the Auditor General’s recommendations.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Women Affairs, and Humanitarian Services—Adeleye Ayodeji, Mariam Keshero, and Yakubu Adams Kofamata—have been given 72 hours to appear before the committee.
Salam reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to addressing issues raised in the 2020 and 2021 audit reports before the 2022 report is submitted in April.
During the hearing, committee member Emeka Chinedu expressed concern over the Labour Ministry’s failure to engage with the legislature, noting that its Minister of State is a former House member who understands parliamentary procedures.
“It is troubling that a former legislator, now serving as Minister of State, has not intervened to ensure the ministry upholds accountability before the National Assembly,” Chinedu remarked.
The committee vowed to take decisive action against agencies and officials that fail to comply with legislative oversight.
