Senate decries Remita grip on FG revenue

Individual Senators on the Senate Committee on Finance have raised concern over what they perceive as the sole choice of Remita as the Federal Government preferred payment platform.

The federal lawmakers expressed their disaffection on Tuesday when the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, appeared before the Committee led by Senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.

Senator Biodun Olujinmi was the first to make the observation that it was long overdue for the federal government to decentralise its revenue gateway.

She said: “I am worried about Remita, we need to broaden the base. Is there something hidden that is not known to us? When are you going to do this?”

Apparently not satisfied with the response of the Accountant General of the Federation who dropped the hint that the contract with Remita could be reviewed this month, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adeola raised the alert that it was risky for the Federal Government to use Remita as its only payment platform.

“We want this to be decentralised, Remita can’t be the only source. If the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is holding on to anything, we shall come to your assistance. We are pleading that you expedite action so that we have more payment platforms. It is possible and desirable to have more payment platforms.”

Senator representing Ekiti Central, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele pointedly asked the Accountant General of the Federation if the federal government signed a contract giving the exclusive right to Remita.

“Did Nigeria sign an exclusive right with Remita? You should let us know. What is so special that they are doing? ”
Ahmed Idris told the lawmakers to direct their questions to the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele as he revealed that the apex bank, not the office of AGoF, engaged Remita.

“The CBN is the key stakeholder, they give the license, they know the expertise, it is the CBN that engaged Remita in the first place, not the Accountant General of the Federation.

“It isn’t our responsibility to appoint, it is the job of CBN, not office of the AGoF. Of course, it is risky to have one provider, let us open the space to have more participants.”

Earlier Ahmed Idris has told members of the Senate Committee on Finance that it was not his responsibility to defend the budget of the Federal Government.

His response was sequel to the lawmakers who demanded an explanation on what his office was doing to boost revenue coming from the revenue-generating agencies amidst borrowing by the Federal Government to fund the nation’s budget.

“My preoccupation is to present the budget of the AGF, not the budget of the Federal Government. The Chairman of this Committee is a Chartered Accountant. I expect him to protect me here.

“We now have revenue directors in key revenue-generating agencies, we have the figure and we will give but it isn’t part of our responsibility.”

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Senate decries Remita grip on FG revenue