House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a directive for the Federal Fire Service to return N1.4 billion, allocated as COVID-19 intervention funds, within seven days.
The committee chairman, Bamidele Salam, took this action after the Fire Service failed to appear before the committee for three consecutive invitations regarding the utilization of the funds.
Chairman Salam instructed the accounting officer of the agency to deposit the specified amount owed to the federal government within the stipulated timeframe and provide evidence of compliance to the committee.
Failure to adhere to the directive may result in potential sanctions, as warned by the committee, in accordance with constitutional and Public Service Rule provisions.
The committee has also mandated other agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Accountant General of the Federation Office, Ministry of Health, and Women Affairs Ministry, to attend the next session with relevant documents addressing concerns related to their utilization of COVID-19 intervention funds.