General News
NIDO Worldwide Demands Answers Over 13 Audit Findings Against NiDCOM
By Iyojo Ameh
NIDO Worldwide has called on the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to fully account for 13 audit observations contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s report on non-compliance and internal control weaknesses in federal government agencies.
In a statement dated September 18, 2026, NIDO Worldwide said the observations were contained in Volume I of the Auditor-General’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2024, transmitted to the National Assembly on July 17, 2026. The observations concerning NiDCOM cover the period from January to December 2023.
According to the organisation, the audit identified issues including the non-submission of NiDCOM’s 2023 audited financial statements, emergency procurement without the required certification, alleged contract splitting to circumvent approval thresholds, and the award of contracts to companies whose statutory or prequalification documents were recorded as invalid or expired.
NIDO Worldwide also cited audit observations concerning payments for diaspora events where evidence of contract execution was not produced, alleged contractor overpayments, breaches of tax deduction and federal e-payment rules, misapplication of funds between expenditure heads, cash advances above statutory limits and five vehicles recorded in NiDCOM’s books but not sighted during physical verification.
It said the Auditor-General recorded “No response” from NiDCOM management against each of the 13 observations and consequently maintained that the findings remained valid pending implementation of the recommendations.
The Auditor-General, according to NIDO Worldwide, recommended among other measures that the Chairman of NiDCOM be requested to account to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, while funds identified for recovery should be remitted to the Treasury with evidence of such remittance provided.
NIDO Worldwide said it had taken note of NiDCOM’s September 5 public statement that relevant documents were intact and would be made available to the Auditor-General and appropriate National Assembly committees when required.
The organisation, however, stressed that the central issue raised by the audit was not whether the diaspora events took place, but whether evidence of execution of the underlying contracts was produced and whether procurement rules were followed.
“An answer to that query therefore lies in the vouchers, contracts, approvals and delivery records,” NIDO Worldwide said, adding that the matter should be resolved through documentary evidence.
The organisation also raised concerns over the absence of a functional Governing Board for NiDCOM, saying it was not aware that the board provided for under the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Establishment Act 2017 had been constituted and operationalised.
It said the absence of the board represented a gap in the governance structure of the commission, particularly because the statutory framework assigns the board responsibilities relating to policy and the commission’s audited and management accounts.
NIDO Worldwide called for full cooperation with the Auditor-General and the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees, submission of outstanding audited financial statements, compliance with public finance and procurement requirements, and implementation of lawful audit recommendations.
It further demanded the urgent constitution and operation of NiDCOM’s statutory Governing Board, alongside stronger internal audit, procurement, financial-control and institutional oversight mechanisms.
The group also called for the establishment of dedicated Diaspora Desks within the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad, as well as the implementation of diaspora voting rights.
NIDO Worldwide additionally renewed its recommendation that a federal institution be designated to be led and managed by Nigerians in the Diaspora, identifying the National Orientation Agency for that purpose.
The organisation stressed that its position was not a finding of wrongdoing against any individual, saying properly documented and authorised expenditure should be acknowledged, while recoverable public funds should be recovered where competent authorities so determine.
It urged the Auditor-General and National Assembly to be allowed to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and called on NiDCOM to respond fully to the audit observations.
“Produce the records. Answer the observations. Implement the recommendations. Constitute the Board. Strengthen the institution,” NIDO Worldwide said.
