The Jigawa State House of Assembly has directed the state government to recover missing public funds and sanction officials linked to financial irregularities uncovered in audited accounts from 2019 to 2024.
The decision followed the presentation and adoption of a report by the House Committee on Public Accounts during plenary in Dutse on Wednesday.
Chairman of the committee, Sani Isyaku, presented the report after a public hearing and a detailed review of audited accounts covering the state government and the 27 local government councils.
He said the committee recommended that all unverifiable expenditures, overpayments, and unaccounted funds be recovered, with responsible officers sanctioned in line with civil service rules and financial regulations.
Isyaku said: “Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Accounting Officers, Directors of Administration and Finance, and other relevant officials were invited by the committee to respond to unresolved audit queries.”
He added that local government chairmen, Directors of Administration and General Services, treasurers, and other key officers also appeared before the panel.
According to him, the committee reviewed reports from both the Auditor-General for the State and the Auditor-General for Local Government Councils, examining financial statements, payment vouchers, contract records, and procurement documents.
Isyaku said: “The committee adopted a balanced approach by allowing the MDAs and local government councils to respond to audit observations while maintaining strict adherence to the principles of transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline.”
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Findings from the review showed expenditures above approved budgets, weak procurement processes, and poor revenue collection across state institutions.
At the local government level, the committee identified documentation gaps, irregular and unauthorised payments, project execution issues, and loss of records.
He said: “The committee identified cases of overpayments, unaccounted cheques, and unverifiable expenditures. In such cases, the committee recommended recovery of funds and disciplinary action against responsible officers.”
The committee also traced the irregularities to poor training of accounting officers, weak enforcement of financial rules, and reliance on manual systems vulnerable to manipulation.
“These weaknesses undermine fiscal discipline, public trust, and effective service delivery,” Isyaku said.
To address the issues, the committee recommended regular training for accounting officers and auditors, alongside stronger funding and independence for the Auditor-General’s office.
Speaker of the House, Haruna Dangyatim, commended the committee for what he described as a thorough review and said the report would be forwarded to the executive for action.
Lawmakers unanimously adopted the report following a voice vote at plenary.
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