At its latest meeting on Friday, the Senate Public Accounts Committee, led by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, based its conclusion on the 2016 report of the Auditor General for the Federation.

In Kwara State, the AuGF has established an alleged misappropriation of public funds of N167 million against the UITH.

According to the AuGF’s findings, the UITH reportedly put N63 million into the accounts of its officials to conduct procurement-related operations.

The report noted that relevant guidelines stipulated that procurement in such a category must not exceed N200,000.

In another query considered by the committee concerning the UITH said payment vouchers totaling N94m were not supported with relevant documents.

The first query read, “A total of N63,995,618 was paid to officers to carry out procurement-related activities over the approved limit of N200,000.

“Considering the amounts involved, relevant due process should have been followed by issuing a local purchase order or job order to contractors.

“The management did not take into cognizance the provision of  Circular  No.  TRY/A2  &B2/2009  of  24th  March 2009.

“The circular states that, all accounting officers and officers controlling expenditure are to ensure  that  all  local  procurement  of  stores  and  services  costing  above  N200,000.00 shall be made only through the award of  contract.”

According to reports, the Chief Medical Director stated that the nature of the hospital’s operations may prevent strict adherence to the threshold, particularly in life-threatening emergencies.

Several instances of internal control misuse were also discovered, according to the report.