Nigerian Senate on Wednesday expressed worry at what it described as “zero reconcilliation of remittances into the treasury single account” (TSA), since it was initiated by the Federal government.
These concerns were brought to the fore, by the Chairman Senate committee on Finance, Senator Adeola Olamilekan at an interactive session with Journalists on the probe of revenue generating agencies of the government.
Senate is also worried that the annual budget records increasing deficits despite a plethora of sources that could internally generate such revenue for the government.
According to him, “it is disturbing that every year when the budget is brought to this chamber, we keep appropriating money with so much borrowing to fund the deficits even when there are possibilities of getting the required fund through these revenue generating agencies.”
“This is why we need to know what gave rise to the fact that the TSA remittances have not been reconcilled & the need to do that, at least to enable us know what is actually available to government,” he explained.
Olamilekan also explained the rationale behind Senate’s decision to demand for a foreign auditor instead of the Auditor General’s office for a probe of such magnitude.
“So anything that will encourage the finding of facts as regards what is actually obtainable in the MDAs is what we will welcome in this probe.
“It is not about our political party the APC or political allies but it is about doing the right thing to satisfy the interest of Nigerians & not for a few. So inviting foreign auditors who are not part of the government is to help us get independent report that can be reliable at anytime & anywhere.”
Earlier in plenary, the Senate also resolved to call on the federal ministry of works & FERNA to give urgent & accelerated attention to the Lagos to Ota Abeokuta express road.
Senate resolution was sequel to a motion on the “Urgent need for palliative repairs & total reconstruction of Lagos to Ota Abeokuta express road,” which was sponsored by Senator Adeola Olamilekan.
Suzan O
