Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has directed all partially-funded Federal Government Owned Enterprises (FGOEs) to remit 50 per cent of their internally generated revenues (IGRs) to the federal government, while the fully-funded Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are to remit all their revenues.
In a circular dated December 28, 2023, the Minister said, “This is to improve revenue generation, fiscal discipline, accountability, and transparency in the management of government financial resources and the prevention of waste and inefficiencies.”
This directive is expected to be implemented by the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) in compliance with a presidential directive aimed at plugging leakages and shoring up revenue.
“Further to Circulars Ref. Nos. FMFBNP/OTGHERS/lGR/CRF/12/2021 dated December 20, 2021, on Revenue, Expenditure, and IGR Remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), the following guidelines are hereby issued for immediate compliance by all federal government agencies and parastatals for the collections, utilisation, and remittances of IGR:
“All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that are fully funded through the Annual Federal Government Budget (receiving personnel, overhead, and capital allocation) and on the schedule of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and any addition by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) should remit one hundred per cent (100%) of their IGR to the Sub-Recurrent Account, which is a sub-component of the CRF,” the circular titled Re: Implementation of the Presidential Directives on 50% Automatic Deduction from Internally Generated Revenue of Federal Government Owned Enterprises (FGOEs), read.
The disclosure further mandated the OAGF to open new Treasury Single Account (TSA) sub-accounts for all federal government agencies and parastatals listed on the schedule of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 and any additions by the Federal Ministry of Finance, except where expressly exempted.
“The new account opened for agencies and parastatals shall be credited with inflows in the old revenue collection accounts based on the new policy implementation of 50 per cent auto deduction in line with the Finance Act, 2020, and the Finance Circular, 2021, 50 per cent cost to revenue ratio,” it noted.
It added that, “The revenue collection TSA Sub-Accounts currently operated and maintained by agencies and parastatals for receiving revenue from the public shall be blocked from access.
“The accounts shall be under the full control of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Accountant-General of the Federation.”
The government stressed that the Revenue and Investment Department and the Treasury Single Account Department of the OAGF must supervise, monitor, and carry out a monthly review of both the old and new accounts of the agencies and parastatals to ensure that only funds approved by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy (HMFCME) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) are credited to the accounts.
“Each federal government self- or partially funded agency or parastatal shall not later than three months after the end of its financial year prepare and publish its audited financial statements and management account in accordance with the prescribed rules and forward copies to the OAGF for the review and computation of operating surplus in line with the approved template of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission/OAGF.
“The remittable portion of the adjusted operating surplus will be determined and paid to the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account after reconciliation.
“The final payment to be made to the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account for the year shall, however, be the higher of 80 per cent of the adjusted operating surplus and the deducted amount from the TSA Sub-Rec Accounts of the affected agencies and parastatals,” it said.
The circular noted that, “The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and OAGF will recommend appropriate disciplinary actions and sanctions against defaulting accounting officers of agencies and parastatals found culpable of violating the contents of this Finance Circular and in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.”
