National Sports Commission Questioned Over ₦670.6 Million E-Payments, Contract Splitting

Secrets Reporters

An investigation on the National Sports Commission has raised queries over financial transactions totalling ₦670.69 million, with more than half of the amount linked to payments made outside the Federal Government’s approved e-payment policy.

The National Sports Commission is responsible for key aspects of sports administration and development in Nigeria, making proper financial controls important to the management of public funds allocated to the sector.

The investigation identified five separate financial and procurement issues involving ₦670,689,398.63, including ₦316.21 million in non-compliant e-payments, ₦209.65 million in contracts allegedly split to avoid procurement thresholds and millions of naira spent without adequate supporting records.

The biggest question involved ₦316,214,089 paid in violation of the Federal Government’s e-payment policy. The policy is intended to ensure that government payments pass through approved channels that can be properly traced and accounted for. The audit did not stop there. It also questioned contracts valued at ₦209,652,537.74 which were reportedly split in a way that circumvented the applicable procurement and approval threshold.

Another ₦56,255,212.69 was paid without the relevant supporting documents, according to the audit. The absence of such records makes it difficult to establish the basis for the payments from the documents examined. The audit further queried ₦48,695,400 which was disbursed without evidence showing how the money was utilised. There was also a gap in the Commission’s store records. Items valued at ₦39,872,159.20 were reportedly not taken on ledger charge, leaving the records without the required entry for the procured goods.

The five findings collectively account for ₦670.69 million and cut across payment procedures, procurement, expenditure documentation and store accounting.

The procurement finding is particularly significant because public institutions are required to follow prescribed approval limits when awarding contracts. Splitting a contract to avoid an applicable threshold is prohibited under Nigeria’s public procurement framework.

The investigation also referenced financial regulations requiring government expenditure to be properly supported with relevant documentation and procured items to be appropriately recorded.

The transactions examined were from the Commission’s 2023 financial year. This was before the leadership changes announced in 2024, when Shehu Dikko became Chairman and Bukola Olopade was appointed Director General.