A SaharaReporters’ review of the Niger State audit report for local governments in the 2024 fiscal year has shown indictments of the Local Government Areas for failing to remit amounts running into millions, poor accountability, and abuse of audit standards.
The audit report noted that in some local governments, they had “unsupported payments by third party documentation.”
The report further stated that “Unremitted WHT and VAT Deductions in the local government stood at N11,154,331.00 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises of N5,554,277.00 in respect of WHT, N4,429,605.00 in respect of VAT and N882,449.00 in respect of Stamp duty.”
It was also “observed that some of the payment vouchers raised were not having documentary evidence such as delivery notes, Stores Received Vouchers, Stores Issues Vouchers, receipts etc. to justify the payments made.”
“This implies some of the payments were made for goods not delivered or services not rendered,” the report read.
The report further noted that in Agwara Local Government, it was observed that “Agwara Local Government Council had not remitted N3,346,094.69 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount to N3,346,094.69 is in respect of VAT.”
It was also noted that there were instances of “payment Vouchers not checked nor passed by the Internal Audit Unit. The non-compliance was evidenced by the Payment Vouchers which were prepared and paid out without endorsement by the Internal Audit Unit and Officer Controlling the Vote and Checks by the Accounting Officer. This exposes the Council to fraudulent practices,” the statement read.
In the Bida Local Government, the report stated that “it was observed that most of the payment vouchers raised were not having documentary evidences such as delivery notes, Stores Received Vouchers, Stores Issues Vouchers, receipts etc. to justify the payments made.”
“This implies that some of the payments were made for goods not delivered or services not rendered,” the statement noted.
It was further observed that “during the course of the audit, it was observed that, Bida Local Government Council had not remitted N4,099,327.40 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises of N2,480,913.70 in respect of WHT and N1,618,413.70 in respect of VAT.”
“This exposes the Local Government Council to the risk of payment of fines and penalties for late remittance. I advised the Council to remit the outstanding deductions immediately and in future, the Council should ensure all deductions are made and remitted in accordance with the relevant guidelines.”
Further review also showed that in Borgu Local Government, it was discovered during “the course of my audit I observed that Borgu Local Government Council had not remitted ₦5,877,092.92 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises of N2,618,984.46 in respect of WHT and N3,098,438.46 in respect of VAT and ₦159,670.00 in respect of Stamp duty.”
It was noted that in Bosso Local Government, the council “had not remitted N7,177,915.26 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises N2,890,292.46 in respect of WHT and N3,462,285.46 in respect of VAT and ₦825,337.34 in respect of Stamp duty.”
The report further revealed that “during the course of the audit it was observed that Edati Local Government Council had not remitted ₦2,136,695.45 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises of N352,998.35 in respect of WHT and N898,454.60 in respect of VAT and ₦885,242.50 in respect of Stamp duty.”
In Gbako Local Government, it was noted that the “Gbako Local Government Council had not remitted ₦5,960,470.00 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises of N3,162,045.00 in respect of WHT, N2,612,425.00 in respect of VAT and 186,000.00 in respect of stamp duty.”
At Gurara Local Government, it was observed that “observed that most of the payment vouchers raised were not having documentary evidences such as delivery notes, Stores Received Vouchers, Stores Issues Vouchers, receipts etc. to justify the payments made. This implies some of the payments were made for goods not delivered or services not rendered.”
“During the course of the audit, it was observed that Gurara Local Government Council had not remitted ₦2,845,910.00 to the appropriate authorities as at 31 December 2024. The outstanding amount comprises of N185,000.00 in respect of Stamp Duty and N2,660,910.00 in respect of VAT.”
Other local governments in the state were also indicted for failing to remit different amounts of money running into millions of naira.
This development comes amid calls for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, alongside complaints of inadequacy of public resources by different state governments.
