Reps panel to probe NPA over ‘$800m debt’ to port operators

The house of representatives committee on public accounts says it will commence an investigation into alleged $800 million indebtedness by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to port operators.

The committee disclosed this at its investigative hearing on Friday.

According to Oluwole Oke, chairman of the committee, NPA is said to owe port operators over $800 million, an amount described as “not small”.

The committee said the investigation would be taken closer to both parties in Lagos.

“The parliament will move the hearing to Lagos where all parties will meet with us at Marriott Hotel in Ikeja between December 8 and 9. We hope to resolve this issue once and for all. $800 million is not a small amount of money,” Oke said.

Meanwhile, the committee is also probing the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for failing to employ workers in 2018 despite appropriate allocation.

The office of the auditor general of the federation had, in an audit query being verified by the committee, said N1.7 billion was approved for PTAD as personnel cost in 2018 but it utilised only N1.4 billion and returned the balance of about N310 million to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF).

Speaking at the hearing, Oke said despite workers not being recruited, PTAD received N1.7 billion as personnel costs in 2018.

“In 2020, the agency’s allocation for personnel cost went up to N1.8 billion, reducing to N1.6 billion in 2021, going up again to N1.9 billion in 2022, even when the workers have not been employed,” the query read.

Responding to the query, Chioma Ejikeme, executive secretary, PTAD, represented by Abdullah Abubakar, senior officer of PTAD, said N1.7 billion was budgeted for personnel costs in 2018 because the agency initially planned to employ new hands.

Ejikeme added that the balance of N310 million was returned to the treasury.

“Our personnel are handled by IPPIS. The balance of the money budgeted was returned to the CRF because we did not employ the staff that we needed to employ. Till date, we are still in need of those workers, but we are yet to get a waiver from the head of service to employ,” she said.

The PTAD boss also said the increase in expenditure, despite not employing new members of staff, was a result of the promotion of existing workers and the need to adjust their salaries in accordance with their new positions.

However, Oke said PTAD committed an offence for failing to utilise the funds given for that specific purpose.

“The head of service and the federal character commission must have carried out a needed assessment on your agency leading to your request for funds to employ. We (parliament) gave you that money but you failed to use it,” Oke said.

“The complaint of most agencies has been lack of funds. But here in PTAD, you got the funds you requested and, yet, failed to use them. You have lied to the parliament through the president and have denied other agencies the use of that money.

“So, we need to see the assessment that was carried out on your agency that led to the parliament giving you this money. By not using this money for what it was meant for, you have committed an offense against the Appropriation Act. But we will give you a right of fair hearing to explain to us the reason(s) for your action.”