TSA: Reps to sanction MDAs over non-compliance, summon CBN, others

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has resolved to sanction Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the government over the violation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam, made this known at the resumed hearing of the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

The committee also summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso; the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; and representatives from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to appear before it on February 20.

The committee is investigating alleged leakages and non-remittance of TSA revenue generated through Remita.

Salam said the investigation aimed at transparency and accountability and not targeting any specific company.

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The Managing Director of Remita Payment Service Limited (RPSL), Deremi Atanda, noted that Remita does not manage government revenue but acts as a software and payment gateway.

Atanda debunked the one per cent fee charged for processing TSA, adding that the applicable fee for processing TSA payments was N150 with VAT.

He said this was according to CBN circulars of November 2018 and December 2020.

He said Remita offered free value-added services to the Federal Government despite foreign hosting costs.

The committee however expressed concern about the lack of documents, particularly from CBN, contrasting with Remita’s provision of a signed contract.

Salam said there was a need for the physical appearance of the Minister of Finance, CBN Governor, and Accountant-General of the Federation before the committee on February 20.

It would be recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari, in August 2015, approved the establishment and operation of TSA for the e-collection of government receipts for all federal MDAs with immediate effect.

The approval was contained in a circular signed by the then Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi.

According to the circular, the TSA is ‎to aid transparency and facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), all receipts due to the Federal Government or any of her agencies shall be paid into the TSA except otherwise expressly approved.

The Star