Tuesday, September 08, 2015

TSA: Buhari gives MDAs Sept 15 deadline



President Muhammadu Buhari has given all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government up till September 15 to either comply with the instructions on the opening of a Treasury Single Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria or face sanctions.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to unfailingly comply with the instructions on the Treasury Single Account by September 15, 2015 or face sanctions,” a statement by the Assistant Director (Media Relations) in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Manga, on Monday stated.

Manga quoted the HOCSF, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, as having observed in a September 4 circular that a number of MDAs had yet to comply with the directive on the TSA.

He recalled an earlier circular issued by the HOCSF on August 7, 2015, announcing the introduction of the TSA with the directive that all receipts due to the Federal Government or any of her agencies were to be paid into the Federal sub-treasury account maintained in the CBN.

The implementation of the TSA, according to the circular, is expected to aid transparency and facilitate compliance with Sections 80 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

A top ranking official of the Ministry of Communications Technology, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said some top officials had not been happy with the directive.

The source, however, said the ministry had no option but to comply, especially because of the personality of the President.

The source said, “Yes, some people will grumble. However, we have no choice but to comply. I am very confident that our ministry will meet the deadline. Because of the personality of the person at Aso Rock, we have to comply.

“I don’t know how far we have gone with this matter. What I know for sure, however, is that we will comply. The process is already on.”

Buhari had ordered federal MDAs to channel all revenues to the TSA to be domiciled in the CBN.

The measure, according to the government, is to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of public accounts.

Also affected by the directive are foreign missions, teaching hospitals, medical centres, federal tertiary institutions. Agencies, like the CBN, Security and Exchange Commission, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria are also captured in the directive.

Others include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Customs Service, and the Department of Petroleum Resources.

The President’s directive was in consonance with Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution. Section 80 (1) of the constitution reads, “All revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation (not being revenues or other moneys payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other public fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.”

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