Shocking: CRS Privatization Council That Plans To Sale Gov’t Assets Failed To Disclose It’s Accounts For Over 10 Years.
By Our Reporter
The Cross River State Privatization Council which plans to sale key government assets has not disclose it’s accounts for more than ten years.
An audit report published by the office of the state Auditor General for the year ended 31 December, 2020 and obtained by The Parchment shows that the last time the Council submitted it’s accounts to be audited was in 2009. An action that clearly violates section 125(3) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and the Audit Law (CAP A 20) of the Laws of Cross River State 2004.
Despite the abuse, the Council through it Director General, John Odo and exclusively reported by this paper recently in Calabar said it plans to Privatize over 40 ‘companies’ and ‘industries’ owned by the state government.
The main opposition party in the state, the People’s Democratic Party, has however, vowed to mobilize against any plan to sale the assets, accusing the state government of insincerity.
The Audit Report also listed over 26 Ministries and Agencies in the state that are yet to submit their account for audit.
According to the report, the Cross River State Water Board, CRS Universal Basic Education Board, Bureau of Public Private Partnership, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Cross River State University of Technology now UNICROSS also failed to submit it’s accounts for year 2018, 2019 and 2020.
It also showed that the last time Obudu Ranch Resort submitted it’s report was in 2013. While CRS Forestry Commission, Tourism Bureau, Sports Commission, Scholarship Board, Carnival Commission, CRBC, College of Education, Akamkpa among others last submitted their report in 2018.
However, the State House of Assembly which this paper can confirm received the report in August is yet to summon any of the agencies for questioning. Signifying a failure in their constitutional oversight role.
