By Sandra Michaels
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, on Monday, ordered the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to provide a comprehensive breakdown of unremitted operating surpluses and other revenues owed to the Federal Government by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and other agencies.
The committee also demanded clarification regarding the alleged withdrawal of N15 billion from the account of the Universal Basic Education Commission and the funds of other agencies by the OAGF.
These directives were issued when the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, appeared before the committee during an investigative hearing in Abuja.
Raising the issue during the session, a member of the committee, Gboyega Isiaka, noted that the persistent non-remittance of revenue by government agencies had become a major financial challenge to the country.
Responding to the lawmakers, the Director of Revenue and Investment at the OAGF, Makinde Mogaji, admitted that the CBN was allegedly indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of N5.3 trillion in unremitted operating surplus.
The committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, further grilled the AGF over complaints from UBEC and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies regarding the arbitrary deduction of funds earmarked for statutory responsibilities.
The lawmakers challenged the OAGF over the alleged deductions and the subsequent claims of refunds, arguing that such actions were unjustifiable given that the affected agencies have clear statutory mandates to execute using the appropriated funds
