Customs Boss awarded 191 contracts worth N1billion in one day.

The House of Representatives adhoc committee on unspent funds by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), has queries the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for figures in its capital components that are not in line with the Appropriation Act.

The Chairman of the Committee, Festus Uduyo expressed these concerns as regards irregularities in the financial statements as presented by the Customs.

The lawmaker frowned at 191 contracts worth over N1 billion awarded in one day by the customs without due process.

“This is not acceptable and parliament will not condone any breach of Acts of Parliament no matter the reason.

“These expenditures do not reflect what is approved in the budget and it is in clear breach of the Public Procurement Act,’’ he said.

The Comptroller General of the service, Mr Hameed Ali, apologised to the lawmakers for errors and discrepancies in the financial statement presented by the service.

He pleaded for more time to correct the discrepancies in the agency’s financial statements, pledging that the corrected copy will be submitted immediately.

The committee then adjourned hearing and the chairman ruled that the committee would critically look into the records of the service when submitted with a view to unearth any irregularity in line with the committee’s mandate