…some of the infractions are grievous to earn sack, jail sentence-Rep. Salam
By Lubem Gena, Abuja
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives investigating various disbursements to Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) has discovered that so many infractions were recorded by health institutions across the country.
The seating which was presided over by the Chairman, Representative Bamidele Salam entertained presentations from the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Bauchi state; Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Cross River state; Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola formerly known as Feederal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa state and the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala-Kano.
Dr. Dauda Katagum, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre Azare, who received N949,233,268.72 made a presentation which the lawmakers discovered has the difference of N27 million which he claimed is trapped in the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
Hon. Zakaria Nyampa who took it up frontally said requested for evidence to back up such claim.
“Apart from that, the TSA account is an account that warehouses all accounts. So there is no way of knowing which particular it is. So, if you have hundred million in your TSA account it is convenient for to say something out of it was part of the Covid-19 money? The question is, why is the money still in your account after how many years of Covid-19 intervention expenditure? Why didn’t you retain the sum of money”, Rep. Salam enquired.
Dr. Katagum also failed to explain the definite timeline of the contract and other matters relating to the contract including the order from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to refund the sum of N8.6million to the federal government due to the market survey they did.
Meanwhile, a company, GMC International Ltd, which failed to execute the contract at the medical facility, is to be invited to appear before the committee just as the hospital management is to furnish the committee with all details about the transaction it undertook on the intervention.
Also, the Medical Director of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Cross River state, Dr Bassey Edet who also had great difficulty in talking to his earlier submission to the secretariat of the committee was to re-present his work in a date to be communicated.
The hospital also received the sum of N949,233,268.72
Similarly, the Medical Director of National Orthopedic Hospital Dala-Kano, Dr. Nurudeen Isah was also asked to furnish the committee with all relevant documents relating to the Covid-19 intervention after he failed to convince the committee that transparency, due process and value for money were the watchwords while expending on the project.
Dr. Usman Ahmadu Baba, the acting Chief Medical Director of Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola suffered the same fate with the National Orthopedic Hospital Dala-Kano as incoherence in presentation and other related matters saw him been asked to re-appear before the committee to clear salient issues.
“Honourable colleagues, again this is another inconclusive interaction by the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola. Accountant, it is actually not a funny matter. I can see you laughing and smiling. Some of these infractions can actually earn you a jail term. Apart from terminating your appointment or paying fine. It can actually lead you to jail. It is not something to be smiling or laughing about. There is nothing funny about it.
“You have committed very grievous infractions in the administration of public funds. And that is not a joking matter. We will communicate you on a new date for your appearance”, Rep. Salam concluded.
