Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The management of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has pushed back against a wave of online reports alleging financial improprieties, describing the claims as a calculated attempt at blackmail and a distraction from its mandate. In a terse statement released on Saturday, the Commission declared that it would not be drawn into a public exchange with what it described as organisations and individuals whose stock-in-trade is to extort Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The controversy stems from the Auditor-General for the Federation's Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs for 2024, which was published in August. The report raised significant concerns over NIDCOM's expenditure, particularly the payment of N209.09 million for flights, accommodation, venues, and logistics for three major diaspora events in 2023. According to the audit, the Commission allegedly could not produce documents to prove that the services were actually delivered, such as flight ticket bookings, accommodation records, participant details, venue rental documents, attendance registers, or evidence of payment to a music artist.
The auditors also flagged that seven companies received contracts worth N356.38 million for capital and intervention projects, even though their prequalification documents had expired since 2022. In addition, contracts worth N165.29 million were awarded to companies whose Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) were found to be invalid or had been altered. The auditors concluded that NiDCOM's management did not respond to the audit queries, leaving the findings valid pending implementation of their recommendations.
Reacting to the reports on Saturday, NiDCOM's management maintained a defiant posture. "Our attention has been drawn to reports online about an Auditor-General's report on NiDCOM. This is definitely another attempt to blackmail and distract the Commission," the statement read. The Commission stressed that it is "open and transparent" and will provide necessary explanations and reports to the relevant agencies when officially required to do so.
"NiDCOM will not be distracted. When NiDCOM is formally informed and asked to report to the relevant agencies, particularly the National Assembly committees and the AGF's office, it will," the statement added. The agency made it clear that it would not engage in exchanges with organisations or individuals whose activities, it alleged, were centred on blackmail and extortion.
While NiDCOM insists it will answer to the appropriate authorities when officially summoned, the audit report presents a detailed picture of potential financial lapses that could trigger further scrutiny from the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committees. For now, the Commission has drawn a line in the sand, refusing to be tried in the court of public opinion and vowing to let the formal processes run their course.
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