Jigawa Assembly Investigates Finances, Directs Recovery of Unaccounted Funds

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has directed the state government to recover missing public funds and sanction officials implicated in financial irregularities uncovered in audit reports spanning 2019 to 2024.

The resolution followed the adoption of a report presented during plenary in Dutse by the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Sani Isyaku. The committee’s findings were based on a comprehensive review of audited accounts of the state government and all 27 local government councils.

According to Isyaku, the committee examined financial statements, payment vouchers, procurement records, and contract documents across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as local councils. Several top officials, including commissioners, permanent secretaries, and accounting officers, were invited to respond to audit queries during a public hearing process.

The committee identified key issues such as unverifiable expenditures, overpayments, unaccounted funds, weak procurement processes, and poor revenue collection. At the local government level, documentation gaps, unauthorised payments, and missing records were also highlighted.

As part of its recommendations, the assembly called for the recovery of all mismanaged funds and strict disciplinary action against responsible officers in line with civil service rules and financial regulations. The report also stressed the need for improved training of accounting personnel and stronger enforcement of financial guidelines.

Isyaku attributed many of the irregularities to systemic weaknesses, including inadequate training, weak oversight, and reliance on manual processes prone to manipulation. He warned that such lapses undermine transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery.

The Speaker of the House, Haruna Dangyatim, commended the committee for its thorough work and assured lawmakers that the report would be forwarded to the executive arm for implementation. The recommendations were unanimously adopted by the assembly.

With recurring audit queries across MDAs and local councils, do you think stricter enforcement can curb financial mismanagement in Jigawa State?

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