NPA refuses to remit N160bn revenue – House c’ttee - ...Oteh’s representatives walked out

[DT]

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance yesterday accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of diverting N160 billion this year being the revenue it was supposed to remit to the Federation Account.  Committee chair Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin (PDP, Kano) said this yesterday at a public hearing on non-remittance of internally generated revenues by money generating agencies at the National Assembly complex Abuja.

He said NPA was supposed to remit to the Federation Account in line with section 162 of the 1999 Constitution saying, "they generated N160 billion and they expended N160 billion."

Also yesterday, the committee walked out top officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Shortly after commencement of the hearing, committee chair Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin (PDP, Kano) told the SEC officials led by the Director of Finance, Abatcha Bulama, who represented the Director General, Ms Aruma Oteh, to leave the meeting room because the National Assembly has resolved not to have anything to do with the commission again so long Oteh remains the head.

In July, the House adopted the report of its adhoc committee on the "near collapse" of the Nigerian capital market calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack Oteh over alleged misconduct and incompetence.

However, Oteh was rather recalled back to her post having been sent on compulsory leave in the wake of the probe.

At yesterday's meeting, the committee met with 60 revenue generating agencies and warned 15 of them including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and NPA that they should appear before the panel today.

Daily Trust