The Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) has expressed deep concern over the reported payment of N14 million for activities related to the 2024 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Week, which were allegedly not executed under the leadership of the former Head of Service, Dr. Samuel Atang.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, TAN described the development as a serious breach of public trust and a troubling indication of lapses in financial accountability within the FCT civil service system.
It noted that public funds must be managed with the highest level of transparency, especially in a time when citizens expect prudent use of limited resources.
It said preliminary findings suggested that despite the release of funds earmarked for the Civil Service Week, there was absolutely no evidence that the corresponding activities were carried out.
The organisation called for a thorough and independent investigation into the matter to ascertain the facts and identify those responsible.
It noted: “We are deeply concerned about reports indicating that a substantial sum of N14 million was disbursed for a programme that was not implemented. If confirmed, this represents a clear case of financial mismanagement and must not be swept under the carpet,” the statement read.
To this end, the group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately probe the allegations and ensure that accountability is enforced.
The Network also called on the FCT Administration under the leadership of Nyesom Wike to strengthen its internal control mechanisms and ensure that all expenditures are properly monitored and verified before and after disbursement.
It added: “Accountability is the cornerstone of good governance. Those entrusted with public resources must be held to the highest standards of integrity. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for transparency in the management of public funds.”