LAGOS , NIGERIA (VOICE OF NAIJA) – AGF and Finance Minister have denied knowledge of N34.311 Trillion remita contract
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, have both distanced themselves from the contract between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Systemspecs/Remita for revenue collection across government agencies.
During an investigative hearing chaired by Rep. Bamidele Salam, the AGF and Finance Minister expressed concerns over discrepancies and irregularities in the procurement process, highlighting potential transparency and accountability lapses.
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AGF, represented by Deputy Director Yusuf Bala Mohammed, clarified that the Ministry of Finance was unaware of the agreement, emphasizing the customary practice of vetting agreements by the Attorney General and adherence to constitutional guidelines for agreements exceeding N50 million.
Responding to questions on the Ministry’s role in the agreement, Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Okokon Udo, clarified that the agreement was between CBN and SystemSpecs, with the Ministry of Finance not involved in signing the agreement.
Rep. Salam raised concerns over the absence of signatures from the Accountant General and questioned the standard practice of executing agreements involving substantial government revenue without the Finance Ministry’s input.
Mr. Udo acknowledged the need for Finance Ministry involvement, citing the monetary and fiscal aspects involved, and emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration and efficiency in the system.