House C’tee Queries PENCOM for N693m Expenditure

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has queried the management of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) over the expenditure of N693 million without proper documentation to back it up.

The query was based on the 2012 Report of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

The report noted that the sum of N10.6 million swas paid by PENCOM, as renumeration and benefits, into the account of a deceased staff, three months after his demise, even though the account was supposed to have been frozen immediately after the death.

The report also observed that the sum of  $1,860,799,27 was paid to an Indian company for a risk management communication contract without advertisement of bidding in contravention of the 2007 Procurement Act.

The commission, at the meeting with PAC, was unable to provide evidence of tax deduction, or remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on the contract to the Indian firm.

PAC members expressed displeasure following the discovery of payments amounting to N693,583,15.69,  incurred as stated in paragraph 9.7c of the report without payment vouchers to support such payments.

The Chairman, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, directed that all payment vouchers for expenditure between January and December 2012, and board approvals should be submitted to the committee.

Similarly, the PAC queried the Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, for some expenditure since the beginning to 2016.

A source at the meeting told THISDAY that the sum of N1,313,326,625 was paid to PENCOM staff between January to December 2016.

The money was specified as allowances for mobile telephone calls, housing and furniture, and was being paid on a monthly basis.

The source added that N10.5million was paid to one Aisha Mustapha, as ‘car grant’ without a board resolution and approval to back it up.

Anohu-Amazu was directed to provide the list and details of the commission’s staff, and all documentation that back the provision of the allowances, and car grant.

Chinda, when contacted, told THISDAY that the committee was still meeting with PENCOM on the other queries raised in the Auditor General’s report.

By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja /Thisdaylive