National Assembly Complex
The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to provide details of the funds so far remitted into the Treasury Single Account.
It also sought details on the government’s plans to spend the accrued funds, which lawmakers insisted must first be approved by the National Assembly.
The resolution was passed after a member from Adamawa State, Mr. Adamu Kamale, moved a motion on “Need to Ascertain the Proceeds of the Treasury Single Account to Enhance Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance. “
Lawmakers, at the session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, endorsed the TSA as a good policy.
However, they said the government must give details of the total accruals in the account to Nigerians.
For instance, Kamale recalled that since March 4 when the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, was quoted as saying that N2.9trillion had accumulated in the account, not much had been heard.
Part of the House resolution read, “The House regrets that the objectives of the TSA to institutionalise transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in public expenditure may be negated if the plan for its utilisation is not made public for purposes of accountability and transparency…
“Resolves to set up an ad-hoc committee to liaise with the Central Bank of Nigeria and any other agency of government that has official role in the implementation of the TSA, to ascertain the actual amount realised so far, the government’s plans on its spending and the various government agencies from which such funds were obtained, including a comprehensive list of abandoned projects from which such funds accrued.”
In their assessment of the TSA, several members, including Mr. Edward Pwajok, and Mr. Solomon Awhinawhin, applauded the policy and advised the government to sustain.
However, like the House Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, did, the lawmakers also reminded the government that funds could only be spent from the account after approval by the National Assembly.
Ogor noted that the TSA, being a single government account, was the equivalence of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
“The TSA is a commendable policy, but the methodology of implementation is questionable and has to be addressed.
“The government must note that it can only spend money from the account in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly “, he added.
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