Senate uncovers failure of MDAs to remit N3tn to FG’s coffers

 

The Nigerian Senate has stated that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) did not remit over N3 trillion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government between 2014 and 2020.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC – Lagos), in a statement on Sunday, May 9, in Abuja.

According to Adeola, the Senate’s investigation uncovered the failure to remit 1% stamp duty by MDAS within the same time period, which saw the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, and the DG of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, present themselves to the committee.

According to the Senate Committee, investigations revealed that MDAs were operating under illegalities in relation to funds remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, citing that revenue meant to be remitted may have been wasted.

“The committee decided to probe the revenue remittances by agencies of government.

“The government cannot continue to borrow yearly while the revenue from agencies that the government is financing with the borrowings is spent contrary to the laws of the land.

“From submissions already made and calculations from the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, about 60 Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs), may have about N3 trillion of government revenue still unremitted in their coffers. Or already spent on frivolous expenditure contrary to the Constitution and FRA 2007.

“We cannot continue to run government business as we used to do in this time when there are huge demands for government to fund needed infrastructure and other socio-economic programmes,” Senator Adeola said.

The Finance Minister told the Senate Committee that the FG is considering an approach to calculate and deduct the operating charges from sources before remitting to MDAs.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that the Federal Government has no plans to slash salaries of civil servants.

The ruling party made this known in a statement released to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Equally important, the APC attributed the rumours to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The allegations were debunked by Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) in a statement.

The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, had alleged that it got intelligence report that the Federal Government is planning to slash salaries of workers because of economic reasons.

However, Akpanudoedehe described the allegation as a figment of the opposition party’s imagination.

“The PDP is up to its comical tales on what it terms intelligence at its disposal to slash the salaries of workers in the country. Clearly, only the PDP believes its tales. We are proud of our credentials as a truly progressive and people-centred political party.”