A PDP senator has joined the campaign of the opposition ruling party APC to expose alleged gross financial irregularities in the immediate past administration led by Goodluck Jonathan.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, appointed on the paltform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed another alleged budget fraud perpetrated by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking at the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University of Benin, Abaribe exposed how Nigerian Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) suitable funds using computer software purchase as a front.
Abaribe stressed giant irregularities in financial processes and duplication of subheads which accounted for poor operation in his review of budgets, particularly in the immediate past government.
According to him, the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) had N1.223 billion as welfare package, with N580 million voted for payment to bodies in the 2015 budget.
“A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition, yet the sub head appeared again, gulping N100 million while the sum of N580 million was budgeted for the same expenditure.
“I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software acquisition.“Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) seeking to pillage the treasury.
“Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it.
“What is this computer software that a particular office acquire every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to the tune of N100 million – and more – every year?
“If you check the budget for every MDA of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables year in year out.”
Jonathan’s government has been widely condemned for the high level of corruption perpetrated and President Buhari has threatened to investigate the former administration.
