TSA: Senate probes payment of N25bn commission to private firm

TSA: Senate probes payment of N25bn commission to private firm
By Ismail Mudashir | Publish Date: Nov 12 2015 1:48AM | Updated Date: Nov 12 2015 5:
TSA: Senate probes payment of N25bn commission to private firm

The Senate yesterday commenced the probe of the payment of N25billion commission to e-Collection agent, Remita for mopping up of N2.5trillion under the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
 The probe was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) and 35 others at yesterday’s plenary.
 In moving the motion, Melaye alleged that on the September 15, 2015, the federal government mopped up the sum through it’s the agent which charges one percent of all monies that passes through it.
 He said: “This means that one percent of the N2.5tr mopped up on the 15th September, 2015 alone amounted to N25bn was paid to Remita for doing nothing. The appointment of Remita as an agent for the operation of the TSA negates and contravenes section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
Seconding the motion, the Senate leader, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) said he has contacted the CBN Governor on the matter.
“This is a litmus test to the Senate and we must take it very serious.  When I heard that a company was paid commission of N25billion, I took my time and contacted the CBN Governor. He said he was not aware of it,” Ndume noted.
 Lending support to the motion, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) said the Commission has risen from N25billion to N60billion.
 Also contributing, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom, North-East) said he would lead a national protest of all youth in the country against the federal government if nothing was done.
 But in his contribution, Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) cautioned his colleagues against acting on rumours.
“I hope we are not acting on rumours because the Senate leader has spoken that he was unaware of it,” he said.
 Senators unanimously urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend the payment into Remita account pending the conclusion of investigation of the Senate.