The Jigawa State House of Assembly has adopted the report of its Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which uncovered gaps in the management of state and local government expenditures between 2019 and 2024.
The report was adopted during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin.
Chairman of PAC and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sani Isyaku Abubakar, presented the findings in line with Sections 125 and 128 of the 1999 Constitution.
He said the committee’s review of reports submitted by the State Auditor-General and the Auditor-General for Local Governments revealed several irregularities in public spending over the five-year period.
According to him, the committee identified alleged overpayments, unaccounted expenditures, non-compliance with procurement laws, poor record keeping, as well as fictitious and unauthorised payments.
The report also highlighted inadequate storage facilities for official records and lack of training for some public finance officers, particularly at the local government level.
To address the lapses, the committee recommended the recovery of diverted and unaccounted funds through due process, with such monies returned to the public treasury. It also called for sanctions and disciplinary measures against anyone found culpable.
The PAC further advised regular capacity-building and retraining for accounting personnel, especially in local councils, alongside the provision of fireproof storage facilities for proper record management.
It also recommended incentives for staff who demonstrate professionalism and sound accounting practices to promote transparency and accountability in public finance management.
After extensive deliberations, lawmakers unanimously adopted the report.
