A civil society organisation, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), has raised alarm over the alleged diversion of over N103.8 billion and $950,912 by 31 federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), urging Nigeria’s top anti-graft bodies to take urgent action.
PLSI, in a statement on Wednesday, described the findings of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as damning, saying the scale of financial infractions uncovered in the 2019 and 2020 Auditor-General’s reports exposes a deeply rooted culture of impunity in the civil service.
“This is not just poor accounting; it is outright economic sabotage,” the group said, demanding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) move quickly to investigate and prosecute those behind what it called “systemic looting.”
According to PLSI, the infractions, which range from procurement violations and unauthorised spending to failure of internal controls and mismanagement, represent one of the biggest coordinated financial breaches in Nigeria’s recent democratic history.
The House PAC, chaired by Hon. Bamidele Salam, had indicted the 31 MDAs after a rare, full-scale review of audit reports submitted by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The committee’s work has been hailed by public finance advocates as a bold move to enforce accountability.
PLSI said it has officially petitioned both EFCC and ICPC to act swiftly, adding that the public deserves transparency and justice.
“This is the first time since 1999 that the legislature has completed such a comprehensive audit oversight. To let this go unpunished would be to endorse criminality in the public sector,” the group said.
It also warned that the credibility of government anti-corruption efforts hangs in the balance, noting that “if culprits walk free, it will reinforce the belief that public service is a licence to loot.”
The call adds to growing pressure on the Nigerian government to end what critics call the recycling of corruption scandals with no real consequences.
PLSI vowed to track the case until action is taken, stating: “The era of business as usual must end. Nigerians are watching.”
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