Former Minister Calls On NiDCOM To Open Its Books For Scrutiny Over Alleged Misappropriation.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung has challenged the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, to open its books, answer the questions and let the evidence settle the issue of about ₦209.09 million allegedly spent on flights, accommodation and logistics for three diaspora events.
This followed a recent report by the Global Integrity Watch, GIW, which showed that the NIDCOM allegedly spent the money three diaspora-related events in 2023.
NiDCOM denied any wrong doing, stating that the GIW report was cheap blackmail to undermine the Commission and its Chairman Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
However, Dalung, in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday said that the issue concerned “over ₦1.3 billion in transactions that have been questioned by auditors, and the details are serious enough that they should not be buried under the usual bureaucratic language.”
Dalung’s post read further: “We are talking about ₦209.09 million reportedly spent on flights, accommodation and logistics for three diaspora events for which auditors said there was no adequate evidence that the services were actually delivered.
“Another ₦356.38 million went into contracts involving seven companies whose prequalification documents had expired. ₦165.29 million was paid to five contractors whose Tax Clearance Certificates and BPP certificates were reportedly invalid.
“Four companies awarded contracts worth ₦91.90 million were also said to have recorded zero turnover, despite a ₦20 million minimum requirement.
“Then there is ₦340.83 million spent through emergency procurement for the Global African Diaspora Symposium, even though the auditors questioned the justification for treating the procurement as an emergency and noted the absence of the required BPP approval.
“There are further questions over ₦137.52 million allegedly split into two logistics contracts, ₦48.91 million paid to officers who were not the named beneficiaries, ₦15.60 million paid to security personnel but charged under welfare and cleaning, and millions more in tax under-deductions and overpayments.
“The auditors also reported five government vehicles that could not be sighted, cash advances of about ₦20.5 million above the permitted threshold, and the failure to submit the Commission’s 2023 audited accounts,” Dalung wrote.
He noted that the questions, amounts are specific and transactions are specific, and insisted that the NiDCOM has the responsibility to produce evidence to clear the allegations.
“So the responsibility now is equally simple: produce the documents, explain every transaction, identify the beneficiaries, account for the assets and, where public money cannot be justified, recover it.
“NiDCOM has reportedly said it will respond with its records when formally requested. Good. Let the records speak,” Dalung said.
Pointing out that Nigerians in the diaspora send money home, Dalung said a commission created to serve their interest must be held in high standard.
“Nigerians in the diaspora send money home, invest here, support families and contribute enormously to the Nigerian economy. A commission created to serve their interests must therefore be held to an especially high standard of transparency.
“Nobody should be above scrutiny because of office, reputation or political connections.
“And if everything was properly done, the easiest way to silence the allegations is not through outrage or public relations.
“Open the books. Answer the questions. Let the evidence settle the matter.
“That is how public accountability is supposed to work,” the former minister wrote.