FG Speaks On Why It Changed The Reporting Template For Revenue Generating Agencies

The Nigerian government has approved a new reporting template for better accounting by revenue generating agencies of government.

The  Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the approval was given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria Customs Service has the capacity to generate more revenues but we understand that their salaries are meagre compared to other staff of revenue generating agencies… pic.twitter.com/WmC5vYWR4U

— Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (@ZShamsuna) October 5, 2018

Naija News learnt that Buhari had in July last year, directed the immediate past Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, and the Revenue Allocation, Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to carry out a comprehensive review of the reporting template of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The President’s directive for a review of the reporting template was as a result of the stand-off between members of FAAC, made up of commissioners of finance from the 36 states, and the NNPC over revenue underpayment.

Last year, FAAC meeting, which is where statutory revenues generated by revenue agencies of government are considered, ended in a deadlock on four different occasions.

Both the Federal Government and the states had agreed that the reporting template between the NNPC and the federation account was not fit for purpose as it was not providing the right level of assurance around the revenue figures.

But speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a workshop on revenue generation, accounting and reporting to FAAC, the finance minister said the revenue reporting framework was targeted at generating more revenue and improving operational performance.

She said while the National Economic Council had in the past called for a review of the template, the President decided to grant that request through the approval of a new template.

She said, “The reporting template had been an issue for quite some time and I strongly supported members’ demand for a revised template that would provide in a transparent manner on revenue generation.

“The demand of members was further reinforced by the request of NEC for a review and Mr President’s directives for a new template that would clearly report the revenue in a transparent and customer friendly manner.

“The template had been produced and approved for use by the President.”

Ahmed said the workshop should not only concentrate on the template but also be used to enlighten members as to the dangers of depending on oil in the face of the downward trend in revenue generation.

The minister called on the revenue-generating agencies to double their efforts towards surpassing their previous records.