REVEALED: NNPC failed to remit N3.2trn in 2014

Samuel Ukura, auditor-general of the federation, has revealed how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) shortchanged federal government revenues by N3.2 trillion in 2014 alone.

Addressing reporters on Monday after submitting his office’s 2014 audit report of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to the national assembly, Ukura said the oil corporation under-remitted domestic crude oil sales to the federation account.

He added that discrepancies traced to the accounts of the national assembly were up to N10.6 billion, the NLNG and accounts of several ministries, departments and agencies.

Kura implored the federation account allocation committee (FAAC) to investigate the funds and ensure their recovery to the federation’s coffer.

“From the examination of NNPC mandates to CBN on domestic crude oil sales and reconciliation statement of technical sub-committee, FAAC amount not remitted was N3.2 trillion,” he said.

“Also, the $235-million sale of gas to NLNG was not paid to the federation account but transferred to some undisclosed Escrow Accounts.

“Another $346.2 million was stated to have been paid and received by the federation account, through NGL funding account as gas export sales, yet no document was available to confirm this.”

He also disclosed that discrepancies up to N73.5 billion were found from various special funds accounts of the federal government.

“Total payments amounting to N73.5 billion were made contrary to the established purpose of the funds,” he said.

“The sum of N36.4 billion was released to the office of the national security adviser for the rehabilitation and construction of dams instead of the federal ministry of water resources.

“Another N2.8 billion was spent for the procurement of hand sanitisers for schools and critical public places.”

Ukura said N509 million recorded as payment for schools agricultural programmes could not be accounted for.

He added that the report also showed that N7.3 billion was deducted from various MDA accounts as tax but was not remitted into any account of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Ukura urged the senate and house of representatives to do justice to the reports so that all the money could be recovered and put to better use.