Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has come under criticism for failing to keep proper accounts of COVID-19 financial expenses, donations and other activities amounting to N1.6 billion.
This was contained in the Interim Report of the Special Audit of Federal Government of Nigeria’s Response to the COVID-19 attacks from March 1 to June 30, 2020 submitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Anthony Ayine on Thursday.
The report stated that: “NCDC paid the sum of N19,257,650.74 to some members of staff for the shipment, clearing and distribution of donations received.
”The NCDC was unable to account for these items as records showing particulars of donors, nature of items donated, and list of beneficiaries were not presented for audit scrutiny.
”It was observed that the sum of N1,147,891,839.87 was spent by the NCDC on the procurement of various goods and services.’’
According to it, ”The procurements were not recorded on the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO). This is contrary to the procurement guidelines issued by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP).
“Audit observed that NCDC disbursed a sum of N233,200,000 as special allowances to some members of staff from COVID-19 fund without approval of the Head of Service or the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
“Examination of financial records of NCDC showed that the sum of N100,001,970 was recorded as expenditure on salaries and allowances for ad-hoc staff.
”It was however observed that NCDC could not substantiate this claim with records detailing names of ad-hoc staff, evidence of engagement/appointment nature of services rendered, and amount paid to each of them.
“It was observed that NCDC paid a sum of N118,864,813.20 to some members of staff as cash advances for the procurement of goods and services that should have been procured through proper award of contract.
”This procurement method was contrary to Financial Regulation 2302(ii) which requires that “On no account shall cash advances be use in place of Local Purchase Order or Job Order for the procurement of store locally,” the report concluded.
