… says Agency also remitted N11.3bn of 2018 surplus
The Nigerian Ports Authority has denied the allegations that it did not remit the 2017 operating surplus in its financial transactions for the year.
The Senate had on Wednesday resolved to probe an allegation of non-remittance of N177bn operational surplus made by the NPA into the Consolidated Federation Account; a decision based on a motion raised by a member of the Committee on Marine Transport, Mohammed Hassan, from Yobe State South.
But NPA said it had already remitted the total sum of N30.4 billion and not N177bn to the Consolidated Federation Account, contrary to the allegations made by the lawmaker.
Describing the view of the ‘testifier’ as an “allegation without foundation, NPA said it had remitted the sum of over N38bn into the Federal Government’s coffers for the year 2017.
An NPA statement quoting the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, said, “With due respect to our distinguished Senator, the Authority wishes to state that this allegation is without foundation. The fact of the situation are as follows:
“Total Revenue generated by the Authority in the Year 2017 stood at N303.9bn.
“Total expenditure (inclusive of recurrent and capital) amounted to N205.8bn.
“Of the N303.9bn generated revenue, the sum of N60.12bn represents uncollectable revenue from concessionaires attributed to clauses in the concession agreements, which the authority is currently reviewing.Consequently, the operating surplus for the authority in 2017 was the sum of N38bn.
“Therefore, the sum of N30.4bn, which represents 80% of the operating surplus that the Authority is required to remit to the CRF in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, has been duly paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund by the Authority with receipt of payment already issued by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“These computations arise from the Authority’s management account pending the conclusion of the audit of the 2017 financial statement, which is ongoing.”
According to the statement, “It is pertinent to also note that the Authority has already remitted the sum of N11.3bn for 2018 CRF contribution into the Consolidated Revenue Fund with the use of Authority’s management account ahead of auditing for 2018.
“The Authority wishes to state its readiness to present all documents needed to provide clarification to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and the Senate.
“On a final note, while we appreciate the constitutional oversight role of distinguished Senators on the operations of the NPA, we suggest greater restraint on issues that deal with the integrity of national institutions even as we assure of our respect for the Senate.”
