The National Economic Council (NEC) rose from its 65th meeting on Thursday in Abuja, with a resolution to engage two audit firms to conduct forensic audit on 81 government revenue generating agencies.
The approval followed submission of an interim report by the ad hoc committee of NEC, chaired by Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, to review the management of the Excess Crude Account and remittances into the Federation Account.
The governors of Jigawa, Baderu Abubakar; Anambra, Willie Obiano; Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode; and the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said this in their joint briefing to journalists.
According to Mr. Ambode, 18 core revenue generating agencies, such as NNPC, will be audited by KPMG, an international audit firm, while an indigenous firm, SIAO, will audit other non-core revenue generating agencies. The governor said that NEC would take further action on the agencies after the firms had completed the forensic auditing.
The Jigawa governor said that the Accountant-General of the Federation reported to council that as at Dec. 31, 2015 the Excess Crude Account stood at $2.26 billion. The governor said that the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, informed the council of the standing of the bailout funds given to states.
He said that 23 states had benefitted from N10 billion each, Excess Crude Account-backed soft loan, while 28 states benefitted from the presidential bailout for the payment of salaries and gratuities.
Gov. Obiano gave a report concerning some MDAs collecting revenue in foreign currency and remitting in local currency into the Federation Account.
Mr. Obiano said the permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, reported that besides NNPC, NIMASA and NPA, other agencies involved in such practice were FIRS, Shippers Council, Airport Authority and Nigeria Immigration Service. He added that the official reported that the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) had resolved the problem as all account was now under the CBN.
He also said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who presided at the NEC, reiterated the Federal Government’s policy that NNPC and other agencies must present budget for approval before spending in line with the TSA.
Mr. Udoma hinted on the 2016 budget focus of the administration, saying that plans were on to foster macro-economic stability conducive to the grow of the GDP at 4.2 per cent.
He said the budget’s objective was to deliver inclusive growth to Nigerians, create sufficient jobs and build an economy less vulnerable to oil price shocks.
According to Mr. Udoma, while the government intends to ensure more revenue drive, it will not increase taxes, but strive to raise the collection of VAT from its 20 per cent level.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
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