The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, frowned at the failure of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to remit its accounts to the Auditor General as and when due from 2014 to 2018 in accordance with the provisions of 1999 Constitution (as ammended)
The House Committee on Public Accounts led by its Chairman, Hon Busayo Oluwole Oke (PDP-OSUN) expressed the displeasure
when the Director of Finance and Administration of the Fund, Mr Amoo Oladipupo Idris, appeared before Committee.
Idris represented the Executive Secretary of the Agency,, Professor Sulaimon Bogoro, at the ongoing investigative hearing on audit queries by Auditor-General of Federation to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), of the Federal Government
Hon Oke, who described it as gross irresponsibility and violation of the the governmenent financial rules and regulations said that 2019 and 2020 could be excused because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was inexcusable that they should default for other years.
According to him, “If you say because of COVID you say you could not render account last Ma, it can be considered. But what would be your reason for not rendering other accounts, 2014 to 2018 as at when due.”
The House said the level of negligence was too high and expressed concern that the activities of the Fund has a direct bearing on the future of the country, which is education.
The Committee also resolved to investigate the activities of the Fund in relation to its nominal rolls, grants, revenue collections, disbursement of funds to beneficiaries Institutions and others
The Committee before stepping down the Agency’s matter urged its management to come before it in two weeks’ time with some relevant documents on the submission already laid before it.
Before its adjournment to the next legislative day (Wednesday), the Committee also grilled the management of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, over the Audit queries raised against it and resolved it would along with stakeholders including the Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and the Media, embark on projects inspection to some of the road projects claimed to have been executed.
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