Reps urge EFCC, ICPC to recover N3.2bn from two ex-perm Secs

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts on Monday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to invite two former Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, over a financial infraction amounting to N3,201,583,662.65 during their tenure.
The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the increasing disregard by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for parliamentary summons, as many have failed to respond to audit queries from the Auditor General for the Federation.
The Committee Chairman, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), revealed that the ministry had ignored seven letters inviting it to appear before the committee without offering any explanation or providing the necessary documents to address 32 audit queries from the 2020 audit report.
Salam said, “Although the Auditor General made specific recommendations, the Committee wrote to the ministry, giving them an opportunity to defend themselves. However, the minister has consistently refused to honour the invitation.”
He further condemned the growing trend of MDAs disregarding parliamentary oversight, stressing that it undermines accountability for public funds appropriated by the National Assembly.
The committee insisted that Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, who were the accounting officers when the infractions occurred, should be held responsible. Additionally, the current Permanent Secretary, Saliu Usman, was given a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before the committee to address seven audit queries from the 2021 financial year or face the committee’s endorsement of the Auditor General’s recommendations.
The Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Transportation, Women Affairs, and Humanitarian Services — Adeleye Ayodeji, Mariam Keshero, and Yakubu Adams Kofamata respectively — were also instructed to appear before the committee within 72 hours.
Salam emphasized the committee’s commitment to resolving queries from the 2020 and 2021 audit reports before the submission of the 2022 report in April.
During the investigative hearing, committee member Emeka Chinedu expressed concern over the situation, particularly because the Minister of State for Labour and Employment is a former House member who should understand the authority and workings of the parliament.