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Tag: MDAs

  • Fed Govt to MDAs: no statement of accounts, no funds in 2026

    Fed Govt to MDAs: no statement of accounts, no funds in 2026

    Sanctions await any Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) that fail to prepare and render its statement of accounts to the treasury on or before December 31, the Federal Government warned yesterday.

    The warning was contained in a circular signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation (AG-F), Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, dated December 22.

    According to the circular, any MDA that fails to prepare and submit its separate annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely.

    Dr. Ogunjimi added that such defaulting institutions will also face administrative consequences at the leadership level.

    “Any MDA that fails to prepare and render its separate (stand-alone) annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely, while a query shall be issued to the director/head of accounts and administration,” the AG-F warned.

    The circular, titled: “Guidelines of Financial Activities for End of the Year 2025”, directed all MDAs to ensure that all revenues due to both the Federation Account and the Consolidated Revenue Fund/TSA Sub-Recurrent Account are fully collected and properly accounted for before the close of the financial year.

    It further directed MDAs authorised to retain 50 per cent of their gross internally generated revenue (IGR) and remit the remaining 50 per cent to the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account to adhere strictly to the provisions of the applicable finance circular issued on December 28, 2023.

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    The accountant-general stated that MDAs must “ensure due diligence in the collection, utilisation, and remittance of their revenue,” in line with the circular referenced FMF/CME/OTHERS/IGR/CFR/21/2023.

    The circular also stated that reports on the collection, utilisation, and remittance of IGR must be uploaded into the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform to ensure the completeness of accounting records.

    On the remittance of operating surplus, Dr. Ogunjimi directed all corporations, departments, and agencies listed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 — as revised by the same finance circular of December 28, 2023 — to restrict their total budgetary expenditure to 50 per cent of their gross revenue.

    They are further required to remit 80 per cent of the remaining 50 per cent into the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account as interim or advance payment of operating surplus.

    Over the years, the Federal Government has maintained that unspent funds must be returned to the treasury at the end of every accounting year. However, compliance levels among MDAs have remained inconsistent.

    Earlier, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) had said that more than N5 trillion in operating surpluses has been remitted between 2007 and 2024, but also lamented that the government has lost over N1.5 trillion owing to failure by some agencies to remit 80 per cent of their operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    In addition, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, warned MDAs that failure to comply with the revised cash planning policy could result in the blocking of their capital funds. He cautioned that strict adherence was necessary to improve discipline in public financial management.

    In July, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation issued additional financial control measures after observing what it described as a “surge in unretired advances and idle cash balances across several ministries and agencies.”

    The MDAs were instructed to submit comprehensive annual reports on unretired advances, with the warning that breaches could lead to the withdrawal of imprest privileges or further sanctions.

    The December 22 circular signals a renewed push for stricter accountability across federal institutions as the 2025 financial year draws to a close, with the treasury insisting that full compliance with reporting, remittance, and expenditure rules remains a critical condition for continued access to government funds.

  • FG warns MDAs: No accounts, no funds in 2026

    FG warns MDAs: No accounts, no funds in 2026

    The federal government has issued a strong warning to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), stating that any institution that fails to prepare and render its statement of accounts to the treasury on or before December 31, 2025 will face sanctions. 

    The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, dated December 22, 2025.

    According to the circular, any MDA that fails to prepare and submit its separate annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely. 

    Dr. Ogunjimi added that such defaulting institutions will also face administrative consequences at the leadership level.

    According to Ogunjimi, “Any MDA that fails to prepare and render its separate (stand-alone) annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely, while a query shall be issued to the director/head of accounts and administration.”

    The circular, titled Guidelines of Financial Activities for End of the Year 2025, directs all MDAs to ensure that all revenues due to both the Federation Account and the Consolidated Revenue Fund/TSA Sub-Recurrent Account are fully collected and properly accounted for before the close of the financial year.

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    It further directed MDAs authorised to retain 50 per cent of their gross internally generated revenue (IGR) and remit the remaining 50 per cent to the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account to adhere strictly to the provisions of the applicable finance circular issued on December 28, 2023. 

    The Accountant-General stated that MDAs must “ensure due diligence in the collection, utilisation, and remittance of their revenue,” in line with the circular referenced FMF/CME/OTHERS/IGR/CFR/21/2023.

    The circular also stated that reports on the collection, utilisation, and remittance of IGR must be uploaded into the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform to ensure the completeness of accounting records.

    On the remittance of operating surplus, Dr. Ogunjimi directed all corporations, departments, and agencies listed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 — as revised by the same finance circular of December 28, 2023 — to restrict their total budgetary expenditure to 50 per cent of their gross revenue. 

    They are further required to remit 80 per cent of the remaining 50 per cent into the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account as interim or advance payment of operating surplus.

    Over the years, the Federal Government has maintained that unspent funds must be returned to the treasury at the end of every accounting year. However, compliance levels among MDAs have remained inconsistent. 

    The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) had earlier disclosed that more than N5 trillion in operating surpluses has been remitted between 2007 and 2024, but also lamented that the government has lost over N1.5 trillion owing to failure by some agencies to remit 80 per cent of their operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    In addition, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, had warned MDAs that failure to comply with the revised cash planning policy could result in the blocking of their capital funds. He cautioned that strict adherence was necessary to improve discipline in public financial management.

    In July, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation issued additional financial control measures after observing what it described as a “surge in unretired advances and idle cash balances across several ministries and agencies.” 

    MDAs were instructed to submit comprehensive annual reports on unretired advances, with the warning that breaches could lead to the withdrawal of imprest privileges or further sanctions.

    The latest circular signals a renewed push for stricter accountability across federal institutions as the 2025 financial year draws to a close, with the treasury insisting that full compliance with reporting, remittance, and expenditure rules remains a critical condition for continued access to government funds.

  • Shettima rallies states, MDAs to deepen business reforms at PEBEC awards night

    Shettima rallies states, MDAs to deepen business reforms at PEBEC awards night

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on state governments, federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the organised private sector, and development partners to intensify efforts toward strengthening Nigeria’s business environment, insisting that national prosperity depends on sustained collaboration across all sectors.

    Speaking on Tuesday evening in Abuja at the PEBEC Gala and Awards Night, organised by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the Vice President said the reforms recorded this year reflect “the triumph of collaboration over silos,” and urged stakeholders to build on the gains of 2025.

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “the end of this night does not signal the end of your pursuit of excellence because excellence is a culture, not an event. It lives only where it is nurtured.

    “In the new year, let us do even more to advance the reform agenda for Nigeria’s business environment. Let us build a nation where efficiency is normal, where transparency is routine, and where excellence is the governing creed of public service”, Shettima said. 

    He noted that the success of the administration’s reforms, anchored on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, relies heavily on the dedication of public servants, whom he praised for refusing to accept mediocrity in the drive to improve ease of doing business.

    According to Shettima, excellence is cultivated through discipline and the refusal to settle for the minimum. 

    “Public service can and must be synonymous with excellence,” he added, describing the awards night as a celebration of individuals and institutions that have embraced the administration’s reform ethos.

    The Vice President also highlighted interagency coordination as a key driver of progress, citing the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC) as an example of reforms “already bearing significant fruit” through the introduction of joint port inspection procedures designed to reduce delays and improve efficiency.

    Earlier, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, declared that PEBEC under Shettima’s leadership has continued to deliver reforms that are “incrementally impacting businesses across different sectors.” 

    He, however, cautioned that the work ahead remains substantial, adding that every milestone achieved forms the basis for even deeper reforms.

    Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, outlined the agency’s achievements over the past year, attributing the successes to strengthened partnerships with MDAs and state governments. 

    She said PEBEC’s reform drive has been deliberately structured into its service delivery framework, ensuring that collaboration remains central to progress.

    The event also featured the unveiling of the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Report and the Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report. 

    Awards were presented in several categories, including Access to Justice, Legislative Trailblazer, Leadership of Action, and Business Advocacy and Partnership.

    The ceremony drew top government officials and industry leaders, including the Deputy Governors of Benue and Enugu States, Dr Sam Ode and Mr Ifeanyi Ossai; Chairman of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.); Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Pius Akutah; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho.

  • Fed Govt issues mandatory compliance directive to MDAs on equipment leasing, others

    Fed Govt issues mandatory compliance directive to MDAs on equipment leasing, others

    The Federal Government, through the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance, has issued a mandatory compliance directive to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA’s) regarding equipment leasing procedures and documentation in the country.

    The government directed MDAs to ensure that an ELRA registration certificate accompanies all procurement processes involving equipment leasing.

    Registrar/CEO of ELRA, Donald Wokoma confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    Wokoma said the notice followed a circular with Ref. No. F/LEG/2809/15/T2/7 dated 27th June 2025 from the Federal Ministry of Finance, formally establishing the operational framework for ELRA and mandating all MDAs to engage the agency on all equipment leasing matters.

    According to the circular, all MDAs are now required to interface with ELRA via its official website (www.elra.gov.ng) or designated phone lines (0705 032 4595, 0803 612 7118) for any transactions involving equipment leasing.

    The key directives to MDA’s include: Ensuring that an ELRA registration certificate accompanies all procurement processes involving equipment leasing; and registering all lease agreements with ELRA as a prerequisite for procurement eligibility;

    MDAs are also expected to comply fully with the Public Procurement Act, which aims to streamline leasing operations and support the Federal Government’s revenue mobilisation strategies.

    Wokoma said the new compliance regime was expected to bring transparency, accountability, and regulatory oversight to equipment leasing transactions within public institutions.

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    He also emphasised the importance of wide circulation and strict adherence to the directive across all government institutions.

    “The integration of equipment leasing into a formal registration process will not only boost confidence in lease transactions but also contribute to the overall fiscal efficiency of the government,” Wokoma noted.

    He urged stakeholders to take immediate action to align with the directive to avoid contravening the established regulations.

  • Goodbye to red tape

    Goodbye to red tape

    • Decentralisation of PPP approval process will facilitate project execution

    For a bureaucracy traditionally plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and a lack of responsiveness to public needs, it must be gratifying that the government is moving to remove every known plague identified as hobbling the delivery of the public good. This time around, the presidency chose to focus its laser on the approval thresholds for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

    According to a report credited to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), President Bola Tinubu, while approving the decentralisation of Nigeria’s public-private partnership (PPP) project approval process, specifically directed that PPP projects valued below N10 billion for parastatals and N20 billion for ministries can now be approved internally by project approval boards (PABs), subject to ICRC guidelines and certification.

    Jobson Ewalefoh, director-general of the ICRC, who announced the presidential directive in Abuja, last Sunday, stated that “Only projects exceeding the thresholds or involving multiple MDAs will require FEC approval”.

    “All such projects”, he was quick to add, “must be entirely privately funded, with no government guarantees or financial commitments from the treasury”, just as “every PPP project must be submitted to the ICRC for review and certification. The ICRC must issue certificates of compliance before any PPP project can be approved by the PAB and other approving bodies”.

    The idea, he said, is to unlock the “low-value but high-impact projects” in critical sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and housing.

    “With this framework, we expect private sector-led investments in projects like rural diagnostic centres, school blocks, student hostels, and affordable housing to be delivered faster, with less bureaucracy”, he stated.

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    For emphasis, he says –“By decentralising approvals, the government is supporting and unlocking investment opportunities through improved capital inflows, job creation, and faster project delivery—exactly what we need in this current economic climate.”

    We commend the spirit behind the directive. If anything, it is a measure of the presidency’s recognition of the extent to which red tape has come to impede the wheel of progress in government business. It is also a demonstration of resolve by the administration to inject greater speed and efficiency into the process.

    Overall, we see the big idea, which is to engender faster decision-making by the MDAs – as against the usual practices of waiting interminably for FEC approvals for every single project – as something that will bode positive for the system in the long run.

    We hope that the ICRC is well equipped to cope with the deluge given that the commission will still remain the clearing house.

    However, given that we are dealing with a turf where some players will rather act the Lord of the Manor, with some actually playing the deity to be appeased, how effectively the government succeeds in communicating the underlying philosophy behind the directive to the MDAs will most certainly determine its success.

    But the problem, in our view, isn’t always about the regulations or the structures put in place to ensure that things work as they should. More often than not, it is the penchant by our officials to circumvent the regulations carefully put in place for personal gains. For instance, even with those seemingly impregnable strictures of control already inbuilt into the system, Nigerians are routinely assailed by reports of hundreds of billions of tax-payers money being stolen by officials only discovered after the deed is already done.

    Nigerians will readily recall those bizarre agreements designed to entrap the country as indeed other countless agreements that have reduced the country to a joke across global capitals.

    If we may again restate the point: the government surely means well. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of the bureaucrats for whom regulations are inconveniences only to be observed in the breach.

     We urge that the ICRC brace up to the challenge of ensuring that the country gets a fair deal at all times.  

  • e-Evaluation training for MDAs

    e-Evaluation training for MDAs

    Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA) has concluded a training on use of the e-Evaluation module—one of the core components of the State’s evolving e-Procurement system.

    Held at Amber Residence Conference Room in GRA, Ikeja, the workshop brought together procurement officers, bid evaluators, and key stakeholders in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as part of the agency’s broader digital reform agenda.

    Director-General of LSPPA, Fatai Onafowote, stressed that the session was designed to equip procurement personnel with an understanding of automated bid evaluation process.

    “This initiative promotes objectivity, fairness, and transparency in procurement lifecycle.

    “As the e-Evaluation platform gains traction, MDAs must align with global best practice to minimise manual errors and ensure regulatory compliance,” Onafowote said, urging participants to embrace the digital transition with a strategic and professional mindset.

    He described the e-Evaluation module as a critical milestone in Lagos State’s journey toward a fully digitised procurement framework—comprising e-Registration, e-Tendering, e-Bidding, e-Evaluation, e-Publishing, e-Notification, and e-Award.

    Participants were taken through theoretical and practical aspects of the system, including the three main stages of bid evaluation: Preliminary Examination, Detailed Financial Evaluation, and Post-Qualification Assessment.

    The training also emphasized the importance of proper documentation, interdepartmental collaboration, and strict adherence to evaluation standards.

    Mr. Onafowote encouraged attendees to see themselves as change agents within their respective MDAs, championing the deployment of digital tools to elevate public procurement practices in Lagos.

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    According to Director of Procurement, Mr. Akintunde Subair, commended Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to the professional development of procurement officers.

    He noted that Lagos State continues to earn accolades as a leading sub-national player in procurement reform, not only in Nigeria but across the East African region.

    “The best way to show appreciation for the government’s support is through commitment to continuous improvement. This training positions you to become future trainers and leaders in the digital procurement space,” Subair said.

    Participants praised the session as “timely and practical,” citing real-time scenario walkthroughs as instrumental in building their confidence.

    Many expressed interest in further capacity-building workshops, particularly focused on advanced aspects of the Post-Qualification phase.

  • Accounting: MDAs risk sanctions

    Accounting: MDAs risk sanctions

    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has warned ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that failure to comply with the revised bottom-up cash planning policy may result in restrictions on their access to funds for capital projects.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a Stakeholders’ Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Revised Policy on Cash Management and Bottom-Up Cash Planning, Edun said that the bottom-up cash planning policy, introduced in 2023 and incorporated into the 2024 budget, was designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public financial management.

    The meeting was organized by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and focused on strengthening financial oversight and ensuring strict adherence to the new fiscal policies.

    Edun noted that some MDAs had been slow to adopt its operational guidelines, leading to temporary restrictions on their access to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), the central platform for fund disbursement.

    “The implementation of the revised cash management and bottom-up cash-planning policy, as the Accountant-General has informed us, was approved by Mr. President and reinforced through multiple circulars and guidelines. However, there are concerns that some MDAs are still lagging in compliance.

    “This necessitated a temporary block of access to the GIFMIS platform for some entities, which were later restored when they complied. And I think that will carry on. If you do not comply, then you will be withdrawn from accessing the funds that you need to implement your capital projects,” Edun said.

    Beyond cash management, the Minister hinted at upcoming reforms in revenue generation, with increased automation and the adoption of technology to boost internally generated revenue (IGR).

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    He insisted on the Tinubu administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline, stressing that government spending will be strictly tied to available revenue, without resorting to excessive borrowing or money printing.

    Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening financial oversight and ensuring full compliance with the revised policy. She noted that while significant progress had been made, some challenges remain, which the government is actively addressing.

    “You may recall the issuance of financial documents following Mr. President’s approval for the modification of the Bottom-Up Cash Planning Policy. This initiative was designed to provide a structured framework for the planning and management of limited cash resources, ensuring efficient service delivery.

     “As part of the policy, capital project payments in 2024 are now centralized under the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, requiring stakeholders’ engagement for seamless implementation. While we have recorded significant progress, some gaps and infractions have been observed. Some of these challenges have been addressed, while others are at various stages of resolution and will be highlighted in the course of this quarter,” Madein said.

    She added that government’s renewed focus on enforcing compliance with cash management policies points to broader efforts to instill fiscal discipline and optimize resource allocation for national development.

  • Auditor General uncovers N3.403 financial infractions in MDAs

    Auditor General uncovers N3.403 financial infractions in MDAs

    The Office of Auditor General for the Federation (OauGF) has uncovered financial infractions amounting to N3.403 trillion in several government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the financial year ending 31st December 2021.

    The infractions reported in 28 audit issues are contained in the 2021 audit report of non-compliance/internal control weaknesses in Ministries Departments and Agencies of the federation for the 2021 financial year was submitted to the National Assembly via a letter reference number AuGF/AR.2021/02, dated 15th October 2024 signed by the Auditor General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira.

    The report said N2.902 trillion of the amount came from the failure of eight government agencies to recover outstanding government revenue with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc failing to recover N2.896 trillion of the amount.

    In a letter addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly, the Auditor General said the infractions are part of what he called cross-cutting issues which he said are the same non-compliance/internal control weaknesses that were identified in at least four (4) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) covered by the Auditor-General for the Federation’s Annual Report on Non-compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs of the FGN for the year ended 31%! December, 2021.

    He said the attention of the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly has been drawn to each of these issues through recommendations, including sanctions, with a view to stemming the tide. Also, these issues were treated in detail under each MDA.

    He said the essence of bringing these Issues together is to further assist the Public Accounts Committees and other Stakeholders to be able to see, at a glance, the amount this Report seeks to help the Federal Government of Nigeria recover from a class of Issues tagged ‘Cross-cutting’.

    The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation said the sum of N7.386 billion was the amount of irregularities in the award of contracts by thirty-two (32) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with the Rural Electrification Agency, Abuja having the highest infraction of N2.118 billion while the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc. (NSPM) has the least N11.7 million.

    The report alleged irregular payment of N115.675 billion by sixty-four (64) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc., Abuja having the highest infraction with N96.2 billion while the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, has the least amount of N1.323 million.

    The Auditor General said the sum of N167.592 billion was for contracts not executed by 31 MDAs in the year under reference with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading paying a whopping N100 billion while the National Centre for Women Development paid the least amount for unexecuted contracts to the tune of N2.171 million.

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    The report said six MDAs failed to deduct withholding Tax and Value Added tax amounting to N129.341 million as accruing tax to the government with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) failing to deduct the highest tax amounting to N90.58 million while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment came last with N623,162.80.

    It said further that 21 MDAs failed to deduct the sum of N2.636 billion as tax from payments to several beneficiaries, with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Pic. (NSPM) coming top with N41.009 billion, while the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta coming from the rear N617,427.66.

    According to the report, 11 MDAs failed to remit N11.561 billion tax deducted from taxpayers to the relevant tax authorities, with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc. (NSPM), failing to remit the highest amount of N10.393 billion while the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina failed to remit N1 .371 million to come last.

    The report also said that the sum of N8.312 billion was paid out by about 40 MDAs without supporting documents to back up the payment, with the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), being the biggest culprit with N1.529 billion while the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri, has the least amount of N1.992 million.

    It also alleged that 8 MDAs misapplied the sum of N663,854,877.01 in contravention of extant laws, with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, spending about N253,532,050.49 of the money, while 24 other MDAs awarded contract worth N20.334 billion without following due process, with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc. (NSPM) awarding contract valued at N14.136 billion without following due process.

    It said further that the Federal Inland Revenue Service failed to recover about N69.928 billion as tax liabilities from 26 of its outstation offices within the period under review, While items valued at N968.908 billion were taken from the store without ledger charge by 29 MDAs with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Lagos, alone accounting for N125 billion of the items.

    The Audit report also said that in 2021, 15 Ministries, Departments and Agencies carried out extra-budgetary expenditures amounting to N15.786 billion with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), accounting for N8.86 billion of the amount.

    In addition, it said 6 Ministries, Departments and Agencies carried out virement of about N2,63 billion without approval with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)accounting for N1 .9 billion of the amount, While about N122.5 billion was left unaccounted for by 19 MDAs, with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc failing to N111.601 of the amount.

    It also reported that about N6.602 billion was generated internally by 29 MDAs, but not remitted to the appropriate authority, saying that the National Pension Commission, withheld the highest amount of N4,429,550,386.58, while 35 MDAs circumvented the procurement process leading to the loss of N1,948,132,710.98.

    It accused 9 MDAs of paying external solicitors about N243,932,964.27 engaged without the Attorney-General’s Fiat with the Bureau of Public Procurement having the highest amount of N112,261,659.00, while another 5 MDAs paid some unspecified third parties about N439,688,368.76 without the attorney general’s approval.

    Five MDAs awarded contracts valued at N2.407 billion and above their approval threshold with Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria has the highest amount of N1,065,614,232.70, while staff and unauthrised persons from another five sets of MDAs illegally held on to government vehicles valued at N747,749,365.06, with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc. (NSPM) Abuja having the highest amount of N413,343,623.00.

    Other infractions reported by the Auditor General include denial of access to documents with expenditure amount to N21,480,891,930.77 by 11 MDAs, unretired cash advances in 30 MDAs amounting to N1,300,643,209.41 and payment without vouchers amounting to N1,135,025,464.67, with the Federal Ministry of Works (Housing Sector) having the highest amount of §1,076,662,242.61.

  • NFIU to criminalise date hoarding by MDAs

    NFIU to criminalise date hoarding by MDAs

    • ‘Bulk of tax evasion occurs in states’

    The Federal Government has said it is considering imposing sanctions on its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) that refuse to share data with sister agencies upon request.

    The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, announced this at the first Revenue Assurance Summit yesterday in Abuja.

    The event, which was organised by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), brought together internal revenue services from all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Oyedele’s comment was in response to an account given by the Executive Secretary of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), Olusegun Phillip Adesokan, who expressed frustration over a government agency’s refusal to share crucial data with the JTB.

    Adesokan recalled that the agency demanded payment in exchange for the requested data, which raised concerns about the effectiveness of government’s efforts to enhance revenue generation.

    Stressing the importance of data sharing in driving revenue growth, Oyedele said: “We are talking about revenue assurance. We need to bear in mind that even the revenue itself is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It must make a meaningful impact on the lives, livelihood, and well-being of the people for it to make sense.”

    The committee chairman said there was a need for collaborations among various government bodies to ensure a unified approach to economic policies.

    “Let’s not be pulling in different directions—states versus federal, or even within federal agencies,” he added.

    Commenting on the challenges JTB was facing, Oyedele expressed disbelief over the requirement to pay for data within government circles, especially when the lack of revenue is a recurring issue.

    He said: “A particular agency asked JTB to pay for data. I couldn’t believe it. In the same Nigeria? The government has data, and the government is selling data, and we say the government does not have revenue.”

    NFIU’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Hafsat Bakari, outlined the agency’s efforts to expand its work on tax crimes by collaborating with state-level tax authorities.

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    Mrs. Bakari noted that the majority of tax evasion occurred at the state level and that NFIU’s data on financial transactions could be instrumental in combating this issue.

    The agency, she said, had developed a secure platform, called the Crime Records Information Management System (CRIMS), which allows for the safe exchange of intelligence between the NFIU and state internal revenue services.

    “Through CRIMS, we have entirely eliminated paper records, which are prone to compromise, and we have robust audit mechanisms to ensure we are aware of who is asking for and receiving our intelligence,” Mrs. Bakari said.

  • Why MDAs must honour National Assembly’s invitations, by Presidency

    Why MDAs must honour National Assembly’s invitations, by Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday directed all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to make it a duty to honour National Assembly’s invitations.

    The directive may not be unconnected with reports bordering on Senate’s threats to issue arrest warrants against MDA chiefs for consistent failure to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement reads: “The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters wishes to reaffirm the importance of close and constructive collaboration between Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies, and the National Assembly, particularly its Senate committees, as a cornerstone of good governance and accountability.

    “This cooperation is not only a constitutional imperative but also essential to achieving the bold vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in delivering rapid and transformative benefits to all Nigerians.

    “Under the leadership of President Tinubu, this administration is fully committed to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and service excellence.

    Read Also: Presidency to MDAs: prioritise National Assembly invitations

    “The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is built on the premise of quick and efficient governance, one that brings tangible democratic dividends to the people without delay.

    “A critical part of realising this vision involves a proactive, respectful, and transparent relationship between government bodies and the Senate in its oversight role.

    “This office has noted some concerns that some agencies may not have consistently adhered to Senate’s invitations or requests for appearances before its committees.

    “While we acknowledge that competing official engagements may sometimes make it challenging for agencies to respond promptly to Senate’s invitations, it remains essential that these opportunities for engagement are prioritised to demonstrate our continued collective commitment to accountability and good governance.”