FG Carpets NPA, NIMASA, Others For Unremitted Revenue Surpluses

The Federal Government is set to recover about N450 billion operating surpluses that were not returned by 33 agencies from 2010 to 2015.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeousun, made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference.
She said that an audit had been carried out on the agencies in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), 2007.
The minister that a recovery committee headed by the Accountant General of the Federation had been set up to recover the money from the agencies.
Adeosun noted, however, that some of the agencies had started returning various sums, saying that N640 million had been received from the Nigeria Shippers’ Council.
However, she said agencies have failed to remit such revenues. According to her, some  of the agencies affected are the Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigerian Ports Authority and Corporate Affairs Commission.
Others are the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and National Open University of Nigeria.
Also affected are the Nigerian Railway Corporation, West African Examination Council, Joint Administrations and Matriculation Board and the National Hospital, Abuja among others.
Adeosun said that some of the audit reports had been sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The financial regulations are very clear, where audit reports have indicted some of the officers, some of these audit reports are going to the EFCC.
“Some of the audit findings were so serious that the decision was taken that some of those particular reports must go to the EFCC.
“Remember that we are not a prosecuting agency, ours is to investigate and then we hand it over to the relevant agencies.’’
The minister said that the agencies that defaulted had been asked to come up with their repayment proposals to see how they could be made to repay the money.
“We know that in some cases that money would have already been spent so they will now give us a proposal of how they are going to repay but the money has to be paid.
“We are also looking at their Treasury Single Account (TSA) to understand how much money they actually have because in some cases these surpluses are in their accounts.
“Our plan is not to grind to a halt the activities of any agency but to institute fiscal discipline in all the agencies,’’ the minister stated.
Adeosun also said that a circular was issued on Nov. 22, requesting submission of estimates of revenues and expenses for the next three financial years.
Other documents that were requested are the annual budget which must be IPSAS compliant and projected operating surpluses for review and approval.