The National Assembly Joint Committee on Steel Development has raised concerns over several breaches of procurement laws in the execution of the 2024 budget by the Ministry of Steel Development. During the ministry’s 2025 budget defence, the committee flagged irregularities and recommended a forensic audit to investigate alleged “ghost projects” that consumed an undetermined amount of taxpayers’ money.
Co-chairman of the committee, Zainab Gimba, outlined the infractions during a session held in Abuja over the weekend. The committee queried the ministry’s handling of funds and called for transparency and accountability in its financial operations.
Leading the ministry’s team, Minister Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu faced scrutiny as the committee pressed for clarity on the questionable expenditures. The recommended forensic audit aims to provide a clearer picture of the financial discrepancies and ensure adherence to procurement laws in future budget implementations.
