NIDO Raises Fresh Questions Over NiDCOM’s 2023 Accounts, Procurement Practices

NIDO Worldwide has demanded answers from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) over 13 audit observations contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s report on the commission’s activities in 2023.

The diaspora organisation said the observations raise concerns over financial reporting, procurement procedures, contract payments and internal controls at NiDCOM.

NIDO Worldwide made its position known in a statement issued on September 18, 2026, following the publication of the Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government for the year ended December 31, 2024.

The organisation said the NiDCOM observations are contained in Volume I of the report, under the International Audit and Liaison Department, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

Among the issues identified in the audit report, according to NIDO Worldwide, are the non-submission of NiDCOM’s 2023 audited financial statements, emergency procurement without the required certification and contract splitting allegedly designed to circumvent approval thresholds.

The organisation also listed contracts awarded to companies whose statutory or prequalification documents were recorded as invalid or expired, payments relating to diaspora events for which evidence of execution was not produced for audit, contractor overpayments and breaches of tax deduction and federal e-payment rules.

Other observations cited include the alleged movement of funds between expenditure heads without proper justification, cash advances above the statutory limit and five vehicles listed in the commission’s records but not sighted during physical verification.

NIDO Worldwide said a key issue was the Auditor-General’s record that NiDCOM management provided “No response” to each of the 13 observations.

It said the Auditor-General consequently maintained that the findings remained valid until the recommendations were implemented and recommended, among other measures, that the Chairman of the commission account to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.

The audit recommendations also included the recovery and remittance of funds to the Treasury where applicable, with evidence of such remittances forwarded to the relevant authorities.

Reacting to NiDCOM’s public response of September 5, 2026, NIDO Worldwide acknowledged the commission’s assurance that relevant documents remained available and would be presented to the Auditor-General and the appropriate National Assembly committees when required.

However, the group said the audit concerns were not about whether the diaspora events actually took place, but whether the required documentary evidence supporting the contracts and compliance with procurement procedures was available.

It said the appropriate response should therefore be based on contracts, vouchers, approvals and delivery records.

NIDO Worldwide also raised concerns over the status of NiDCOM’s Governing Board, saying it was not aware that the board established under the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act 2017 had been constituted and operationalised.

According to the organisation, the absence of the board creates a gap in the governance structure of the commission, particularly given the board’s statutory responsibilities relating to policy and the commission’s audited and management accounts.

The organisation therefore called for the full cooperation of NiDCOM with the Auditor-General and the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees, submission of outstanding audited financial statements and implementation of lawful audit recommendations.

It also demanded the urgent constitution of the statutory Governing Board and stronger internal audit, procurement, financial-control and institutional oversight systems.

Beyond the audit issues, NIDO Worldwide called for the establishment of Diaspora Desks within the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad, arguing that Nigerians in the Diaspora need clearly defined institutional channels for consular, investment, welfare and repatriation matters.

The organisation also renewed its call for diaspora voting rights and recommended that a federal institution be designated to be led and managed by Nigerians in the Diaspora. It identified the National Orientation Agency for that purpose.

NIDO Worldwide stressed that its statement should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing against any individual, saying its concern was institutional accountability.

It urged relevant authorities to determine the facts through due process, recover public funds where competent authorities establish that recovery is warranted, and allow the Auditor-General and National Assembly to perform their constitutional oversight responsibilities.

The organisation concluded with a call for NiDCOM to produce the relevant records, respond to the audit observations, implement the recommendations and constitute its statutory Governing Board.