Government confused over missing N3.3tr
By Austin Iyashere, Senior Asst Editor David Agba and Innocent Oweh, Abuja

Barely a week after the House of Representatives raised alarm over N3.31 trillion un-remitted to the national coffers by ministries, departments and other agencies (MDAs), no agency can say where the money is or who is keeping how much.







Investigation showed that government officials are simply in awe of the findings of the House Finance Committee, shocked and confused about how to verify the claim.

At close of work on Friday, no plan had emerged on how to locate the money.

Finance Minister, Mansur Muhtar, was briefed on the matter on Thursday, as confirmed by his Chief Press Secretary, Shehu Maikari.

However, Maikari did not state Muhtar's reaction or order to MDAs to find an answer to the puzzle.

"He (Muhtar) is waiting to discuss with the revenue collecting agencies. I don't think there is any reaction now," he said.

The Director General of the Budget Office in the Ministry of Finance, Bright Okogu, was cautious about the report that up to N3.3 trillion could be floating uncaptured by the budget.

But, again, he has not moved in search of the money, saying the Committee should be more specific.

"The only thing it is specific about is that N3.3 trillion was un-remitted over a period, but we need to know which agency kept how much.

"I am keen to have that money because there are many things in the budget the government can finance with it," Okogu said.

He admitted that there had been talks in the past of MDAs failing to remit between N500 million and N600 million before the new alarm was raised, but he did not say if the previous amounts were recovered.

He explained that in some cases, MDAs are allowed to keep 20 per cent of revenue collected above annual target set by the Budget Office, but even that will always be accounted for in auditing.

Okugu reiterated that the Fiscal Responsibility Law mandates all revenue collectors to pay into the Federation Account all earnings, including those above target.

"Failure to comply with that is clearly against the law."

He said revenue targets for many MDAs are increased in the 2009 Budget, based on economic factors and the performance of MDAs last year.

A Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) also expressed shock over the huge N3.3 trillion lawmakers discovered un-remitted.

"I don't know where they got it from, but they are right to say what they are saying. You know it has become a very sensitive issue when you talk in trillions," the source said.

But, like Okogu, he added that the legislators should be more specific as the RMAFC only works with figures.

Anthony Okwudiafor, Chief Press Secretary to the Head of Service (Amma Pepple), noted that there's little Pepple could do at the moment other than hope that all departments will do what is required to unravel the mystery.

He maintained that the rules on where revenue collectors should pay them are very clear and that Pepple expects all civil servants to comply fully.

Okwudiafor promised: "She will train her guns at the end of the process of justice for any civil servant who steps out of order or is found to have mishandled government funds."

Daily Independent on Thursday had reported that the Committee discovered N3.3 trillion shortfall in remittances from MDAs over a period of four years.


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