Senate To Work With FRC On Revenue Leakages & Misuse

The Senate Committee on Finance has mapped out plans to have the FIscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, attend its interactive sessions with all Federal Government Revenue Generating Agencies as part of the drive to ensure that government gets the needed revenues from its agencies and prevent leakages and frivolous spendings.The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), who disclosed the modalities over the weekend during the Committee’s first meeting with the FRC Acting Chairman, Mr. Victor Muruko and his management team, said the Commission has not been performing its functions optimally over the years owing a lot of factors stressing that more than ever before the Commission must live up to its responsibilities as enshrined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 setting it up.

“Your commission has a watchdog role over Revenue accruing to the Federal Government. With the country facing financial challenges to fund urgent infrastructure and social development, the issue of government revenue leakages and frivolous expenditures by some agencies needs to be curtailed and FRC plays a critical role in ensuring this. That is what the Act estabilishing the Commission envisaged and our Committee will be working with the Commission during oversights on revenue generating agencies” the Senator stated.

Senator Adeola regretted that the Board of the Commission has not been constituted with an Acting Chairman since 2013 adding that these among other factors will militate against its effective operation in performance of its roles.

“The Committee will inquire from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, why the Commission under the Presidency still operates from rented apartments, lacks fund for its operation including printing of its annual reports years after it was established” Senator Adeola stated.

The Acting Chairman, Mr. Muruko, while briefing the committee on its activities over the years, said the commission is hamstrung by factors of lack of funds for its operation that requires seeking information from revenue generating agencies on revenues targets, achievements and expenditure to ensure it conforms with the Fiscal Responsibility Act,2007 adding that the Commission operates from a rented office with some key staff seeking greener pastures elsewhere.

“We have many challenges in our operations. When we write to agencies for information they are very reluctant in giving us information and delay such for months or don’t give us at all because there are no sanctions. There is need to amend the Act to provide stiff sanctions against agencies flouting the Act as well as compel them to provide stipulated information” he said.

The interactive session was attended by Senator Isah Jubril, (APC, Kogi East), the vice chairman of the Committee, Senator Kashim Shetima (APC, Borno Central), Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) Senator Bayo Akinyelure (PDP, Ondo Central), Senator Uche Ekwunife(PDP, Anambra Central) and Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South).