The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) has revealed that eight Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government collectively spent a whopping sum of N728 million on foreign trips and conferences without obtaining appropriate approval.
This disclosure was made in the OAuGF’s annual report on non-compliance/internal control weaknesses in MDAs for the fiscal year 2020.
Among the notable entities flagged in the audit report are the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), and the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, alongside the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, among others.
The audit highlighted these organizations for bypassing critical approval processes mandated by either the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), which should have been obtained within the first quarter of the budgetary year prior to executing such expenditures.
This oversight underscores a lapse in internal control mechanisms and raises questions about fiscal discipline and accountability within these federal institutions.
According to the report, the Establishment Circular mandates that all yearly travel plans for statutory meetings and engagements must receive express clearance from the SGF or OHCSF within the first quarter of the fiscal year before implementation. Additionally, all public-funded travels, whether local or foreign, must strictly be for official purposes and backed with documentary evidence.
The audit further revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Abuja, incurred the highest amount of unapproved expenditure, totaling N361.79 million, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the total amount spent by MDAs without the appropriate approval.
This revelation comes amidst growing scrutiny over the financial implications of foreign trips undertaken by government officials.
With attempts to boost Nigeria’s global profile and attract foreign investment, the nation has witnessed a decline in foreign capital inflow.
Looking ahead, the projected financial footprint of international and domestic travels by government officials in 2024 is estimated to cost the national treasury N15.96 billion.
In response to these concerns, President Bola Tinubu has endorsed a significant 60 per cent reduction in travel expenses for government officials, reflecting the administration’s commitment to prudent financial management amid economic challenges.
