-Minister reschedules meeting today
-To meet NNPC boss over payment into Federation Account
The monthly Federation Accounts Allocations Committee (FAAC) was inconclusive due to inaccurate figures provided by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the committee.
This is not the first time that inaccurate figures from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) presented to the Federation Accounts Allocations Committee (FAAC) has stalled the conclusion of the meeting.
The Federation Accounts Allocations Committee distributes revenue to the federal, state and local government councils.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), Mrs.
Kemi Adeosun, has reconvened the meeting of the Committee for today, 28th March, 2018.
Briefing journalists who had gathered at the federal ministry of finance headquarters in Abuja, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, said the meeting had become inconclusive following the inability of staterun oil corporation, NNPC to furnish the committee with accurate figure of what came to the country from sale of crude oil.
Journalists present at the venue of the meeting sensed ‘something was fi shy’ when states commissioners of finance, stormed out of the meeting to consult amongst themselves before going inside to continue the meeting.
However, journalists were surprised when they were called into the veuue of the meeting were they were informed of the decision of the allocation body.
The AGF said: “We observed some issues with the figures given to us by one of the revenue generating agencies, namely the NNPC.
Until these figures are rectified, corrected and they are factual, we can cannot distribute the revenue.
” Explaining the reason for action of the committee, the AGF said that “Again, we want to follow the constitution in the distribution of the revenue.
” Mr. Idris, insisted that the Committee “will look at the revenue figures by NNPC and reconcile such figures and seat immediately after the reconciliation of that figure.
“We have to express this to all Nigerians bearing in mind that workers at all levels, states and local governments deserve to collect their salaries and all commitments of government,” he further said.
He, however assured that the allocations when finally distributed will be higher than the previous month.
Feilding questions from journalists present, chairman, forum of commissioners of finance, Mahmoud Yakubu, stressed that states were not comfortable with the figures provided by the state oil corporation.
According to him, the sales figures did not tally with figures given to the committee.
“We are not comfortable with the figures we got from NNPC.
We will further seat with NNPC and ensure that what is due to Nigerians get to Nigerians,” he explained.
Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the Minister of Finance, Oluyinka Akintunde said the meeting, which will hold at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will have in attendance the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris; Commissioners of Finance and Accountant-Generals of the 36 States and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of Petroleum Resources, among others.
According to the statement, the minister has also called for an emergency meeting next week with the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr.
Maikanti Baru, and key management staff of the corporation over revenue payment into the Federation Account.
It will be recalled that the FAAC meeting was inconclusive on Tuesday, necessitating the intervention of the Honourable Minister.
