How civil servant paid himself N145m PIB media fund — Auditor-General

The Auditor General of the Federation has accused a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources of financial malfeasance for awarding N145m meant for the media campaign on Petroleum Industrial Bill to himself.

The disclosure was contained in the AuGF’s 2015 report currently being scrutinised by the Senate Public Account Committee, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

The AuGF, who has since issued the civil servant in question a query, noted that the official was expected to award the contract to competent and technically experienced companies

The query reads, “The total sum of N145m was approved by the Ministerial Tender Board and paid to a management staff for electronic billboard advertisement, television jingles and newspapers publication.

“It is meant to create campaign awareness for the Petroleum Industry Bill.

“The contract award should have been made to competent and technically experienced companies through open competitive bidding in order to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Invoices and receipts of payment, which should be from the purported companies and agencies, whose services were engaged in the implementation of the programme, were not tendered for audit. “

The Chairman of the Committee at the panel sitting on Thursday asked the representative of Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Godwin Akubo to respond to the allegation.

The Ministry said, “The Director of Press Affairs, has a wealth of experience with coverage.

“His involvement bridged the gap between the ministry and media houses based on public relations.

“He helped to fast track and reached out to target audience in good time therefore, his service was a blessing to the Ministry.”

Akubo was, however, unable to tender invoices and receipts of the N145m which the ministry spent to carry out the media campaign in question.

SPAC, through his Chairman, Urhoghide, announced the sustenance of the query and demanded the refund of the N145m to the federation account.