The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has reportedly spent ₦48.7 billion between January and September 2024, according to a review by SaharaReporters, raising serious questions about financial management within the office.
The audit report highlights multiple irregularities in the programme’s expenditure, including:Tuition Fees Without Proof: ₦1.53 billion was reportedly paid as tuition fees for beneficiaries of the amnesty programme, but there was no supporting documentation such as receipts or admission letters.
This violates Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations, 2009, which prohibits payments for services not rendered.Lack of Proper Vouchers: Payments reportedly breached Paragraph 603(i) of the Financial Regulations, which requires vouchers to contain details like dates, quantities, and rates.
Unauthorized Disbursements: ₦3.62 billion was allegedly disbursed without clearance from the internal audit, raising concerns over oversight and accountability.Excessive Cash Advances: ₦29 million was reportedly given as cash advances to PAP officers for procurement, exceeding the ₦200,000 limit per advance.
Some officers received multiple advances without accounting for prior ones.Unverified Store Items: ₦87.7 million was reportedly spent on store items with no evidence of recording in store ledgers.The audit attributes these issues to weak internal controls within the PAP office. Efforts to reach the programme’s management for comments were reportedly unsuccessful.
The findings are expected to spark calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which was established to reintegrate ex-militants and promote peace in the Niger Delta.
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