Jigawa Assembly orders recovery of missing funds, sanctions for erring officials

Jigawa Assembly orders recovery of missing funds, sanctions for erring officials

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has ordered the state government to recover missing public funds and sanction erring officials over financial irregularities uncovered in audited accounts from 2019 to 2024.

PUNCH Online gathered that the resolution followed the submission of a report by the House Committee on Public Accounts during plenary in Dutse on Wednesday.

The report was presented to the assembly by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Sani Isyaku.

Presenting the report, Isyaku said the committee had earlier conducted a public hearing and a comprehensive review of the audited accounts of the Jigawa State Government and the 27 local government councils from 2019 to 2024.

He said the committee recommended that all unverifiable expenditures, overpayments, and unaccounted funds be recovered, while officers responsible for financial violations should be sanctioned in accordance with civil service rules and financial regulations.

Isyaku said the committee reviewed annual audit reports from the Auditor-General for the State and the Auditor-General for Local Government Councils.

According to him, the committee examined financial statements, payment vouchers, contract records, and procurement documents of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as the 27 local government councils.

“Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Accounting Officers, Directors of Administration and Finance, and other relevant officials were invited by the committee to respond to unresolved audit queries,” Isyaku said.

He added that local government chairmen, Directors of Administration and General Services, treasurers, and other key officers from the 27 councils also appeared before the committee.

Isyaku noted that evidence and explanations were scrutinised and, where necessary, the committee carried out verification exercises to confirm responses.

“The committee adopted a balanced approach by allowing the MDAs and local government councils to respond to audit observations while maintaining strict adherence to the principles of transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline,” he said.

He listed expenditures above approved budgets, weak procurement processes, and poor revenue collection as key findings in the state government’s accounts.

For the local councils, he cited documentation gaps, irregular and unauthorised payments, project execution issues, and loss of records as major problems.

“The committee identified cases of overpayments, unaccounted cheques, and unverifiable expenditures. In such cases, the committee recommended recovery of funds and disciplinary action against responsible officers,” he said.

However, the committee chairman blamed poor training of accounting officers, weak enforcement of financial rules, and a manual system prone to manipulation for the irregularities.

“These weaknesses undermine fiscal discipline, public trust, and effective service delivery,” he added.

To address the gaps, Isyaku said the committee recommended regular training for accounting officers and auditors, as well as stronger funding and independence for the Auditor-General’s office.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Haruna Dangyatim, commended the committee for what he described as a thorough job.

Dangyatim assured members that the report would be forwarded to the executive for further action.

Our correspondent reports that the report was unanimously adopted by lawmakers after the Speaker put the motion to a voice vote.