Auditor-General Flags N33.75bn Cash Transfer Issues

The Auditor-General for the Federation's 2024 Annual Report revealed that the Federal Government could not substantiate that N33.75bn in cash transfers, meant for 3,295,207 vulnerable households, reached legitimate beneficiaries. The report, obtained by Saturday PUNCH, highlighted eight audit queries regarding transactions at the National Cash Transfer Office in Abuja for the 2023 financial year.

It stated that electronic transfers totaling N33,751,080,000.00 were made to beneficiaries listed on the National Social Register and National Beneficiary Register across 35 states. However, the paid vouchers lacked complete beneficiary details, and the necessary Remita statement for reconciling payments was not provided for audit, obstructing verification efforts.

The Auditor-General warned of potential public fund losses and payments to ineligible individuals, recommending that the National Programme Manager account to the National Assembly for the funds and recover any unaccounted amounts. Additionally, the report flagged N36.74bn in payments made without prepayment audits.