Subsidy payment: House summons Finance minister
By Tom Okpe
The House of Representatives has summoned Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, to appear before it next week Tuesday for questioning over petroleum products subsidy payments in the last nine years.
The House ad-hoc committee investigating oil subsidy payments between 2013 to 2022 issued the summon at an investigative hearing at the main bowl of the National Assembly on Tuesday, (yesterday), mandating the minister to appear with all documents relating to subsidy claims and payments during the period under review.
The committee chairman, Rep Ibrahim Aliyu expressed dissatisfaction, following absence of the Minister, represented by Stephen Okon, Director, Home in the Ministry also, frowned at absence of other agencies and companies from the investigation, including the Department of State Services, Shell, Inspector General of Police, Office of the Accountant-General and others.
He demanded some documents and information from the Minister which he said were necessary for the investigation.
Aliyu said: “This committee requested from you to know that total amount released from the consolidated revenue account as subsidy payments from January 2013 to date.
“Identify each beneficiary with the amount sent to them monthly, covering the period between January 2013 to date. All correspondences between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, (ACBN) regarding subsidy payments from January 2013 to date.
“The total amount release from other accounts other than the consolidated revenue account to subsidy payments from January 2013 to date, breakdown of beneficiaries; companies that enjoyed releases from consolidated revenue account and other revenue accounts as subsidy payments.
“Evidence of lodgment of foreign exchange into consolidated revenue account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd, as revenue from January 2013 to date. Outstanding deposits expected from the NNPC to the consolidated revenue account indicating period, years and dates.
“List of commercial bank account operated by NNPC and subsidiaries before the advent of TSA, balance of forex yet to be transferred to TSA by NNPC and its subsidiaries.
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“Statement of account of all bank documents, evidence of NNPC and its affiliates, subsidiaries transfer of funds to the Treasury Single Account, (TSA) in line with the directives of the President and commander in chief; statement of accounts operated by NNPC and subsidiaries under TSA regime.
“We are giving the Minister of Finance one week to appear before this committee and make presentations.”
While responding, Okon, Director of Home Finance had earlier requested for more time to enable the ministry collate the needed information and documents as demanded by the lawmakers saying: “The Ministry holds the House in very high esteem, however, I was not sent here to make any presentation or submission but to ask for an extension of time to enable us put all documents needed to make our presentation and submissions.
“I sincerely apologize on behalf of the Ministry for not sending a letter, authorising my representation.”
Similarly, the committee requested some relevant documents from Sahara Energy Resources, one of the companies being investigated which was represented at the hearing by Uroma Benson-Oko.
The lawmakers observed discrepancies it made in documents submitted to the Committee wherein, Sahara Trade signed a letter of authorisation on behalf of Sahara Energy.
The Committee resolved to ascertain the incorporation of the company, insisting that Sahara Trade was a foreign company not registered in Nigeria.
Rep Mark Gbilah in his reaction noted; “Mr Chairman, I want to move a motion that they provide us with the incorporation status of Sahara Energy Resources, including their address, shareholding and profile of the company.
“My concern here is that an entity which does not meet the turnover that is indicated as a requirement for this transaction is being engaged to participate in this critical expenditure of our common wealth and the fact that, this company has no presence in Nigeria.”
In his ruling, chairman of the committee, Aliyu who said the lawmakers were not on a witch-hunt mission pointed that; “we are only discharging our constitutional responsibility and we are empowered by law to summon anyone and their failure to do so might lead to serious sanctions or consequences.
It was however, resolved that Sahara Energy Resources should provide all relevant documents and information as captured in the motion and should make appearance in the next two weeks with the CEO in attendance.
