Revenue Remittance: EFCC Prosecution Awaits Defaulting MDAs

EFCC prosecution awaits federal agencies indicted by audit for failing to remit revenue into government coffers.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun made this known as she said notices had already been sent to the affected agencies for the payment of outstanding operating surpluses.

The minister of finance stated that it was a violation of the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

“The financial regulations are very clear. Where audit reports have indicted some of the officers, we take them to the EFCC.

”Some of the audit findings are so serious. Remember we are not a prosecuting agency, so we hand them over to the prosecuting agencies.

”We have sent other proposals to the parent ministries so that they can take appropriate measures against indicted officers especially where there is breach of procedures.

”Remember that there are internal disciplinary procedures and that is exactly what we expect the parent ministries to do.”

“We are working very closely with the EFCC, it is a joint national effort, and we must make every naira count,” she said.

Adeosun also cautioned that if any agency has not got its budget approved by the National Assembly, it does not have the right to go on spending.

“The ideal thing is that they get their budget approved because it is public money.

”So, it is only the agencies that do not obey the rules that their operations could be grounded to a halt.

”The laws are there and we have to enforce them. We are talking about N1. 5 trillion we have realised from this move. We can’t continue to allow the spending of this kind of money outside government’s control.”

Which agencies are affected?

Some of the 33 government agencies/corporations audited by the committee are: Nigeria Communications Commission, Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency.

Others are Corporate Affairs Commission, Industrial Training Fund, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency.

Adeosun further said there was N450 billion in outstanding and recoverable operating surpluses identified in 17 agencies.

The agencies are the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, and the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Others are the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Communication Commission and the Nigeria Postal Service.