*Speaker threatens sanctions on two members
By Citizenship News
There was tension in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for allegedly failing to remit a staggering ₦16.3 trillion in revenues between 2016 and 2022.
The motion, sponsored by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Bamidele Salam, drew from ongoing PAC findings in the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report on government revenues collected through the Remita platform.
According to the committee’s review, the CBN has an outstanding and undisputed ₦5.2 trillion in unremitted operating surpluses for 2016–2022. Additional discrepancies flagged include:
₦954.3 million in unrefunded Remita transaction charges;
₦11.09 billion variation between CBN’s declared figures and PAC’s computations;
₦3.28 billion due for refund when interest at the 27.25% MPR is applied; and, a total variance of ₦19.8 billion in CBN submissions.
The atmosphere turned tense when Rep. Ghali Mustapha Tijanni (Kano) proposed that an ad-hoc committee—not PAC—handle the investigation. His amendment triggered an uproar, as several members insisted that the matter rightly belonged to the Public Accounts Committee.
Arguments quickly escalated into shouting matches, prompting Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to repeatedly call for order.
Rep. Ahmed Jaha (Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza) further moved an amendment summoning the CBN Governor and relevant agencies to appear before PAC—an action that sparked fresh vocal objections and pushed the chamber into near chaos.
Visibly displeased, Speaker Abbas issued a stern reprimand:
“You are shouting as if putting the question will take away a right that belongs to you. This is not the behaviour of an honourable member. We are before the world seeing us.
“We need to desist from this. We have nothing to show if we continue like this. We are telling the world that we have nothing to offer. If you do not agree with a member, you have the right to say no when voting, and the ‘no’ will come from those who do not agree. There is no need to be shouting just to get your way. It is not supposed to be so. Please, let us stop this.
“Hon. Mark I am warning you: if you do not stop this behaviour, believe me sincerely, Kabir Maipalas we will take you to Ethics. I do not want to set an example in this House, but you are forcing us. If you continue to behave unruly, I swear to God, we will start doing what we need to do.
“So, Honourable colleagues, I think we have a position. The position is that somebody moved for an amendment—allow him to move it. We get a seconder. If it is not your wish, kill it. Whatever you want: if you have the numbers, you get it; whatever we want, if we have the numbers, we get it. There is nothing extraordinary or controversial about this issue.”
He warned lawmakers, including Hon. Mark Esset and Hon. Kabir Maipalas, of possible disciplinary action, saying:
“If you don’t stop this behaviour… we will take you to Ethics. I do not want to set an example, but you are forcing me.”
After calm was restored, the Speaker put Jaha’s amendment to a vote—twice—before ruling that the “ayes” had it.
With the motion adopted, the House resolved to summon the CBN Governor and all officials involved in Remita revenue administration.
The Public Accounts Committee is now mandated to investigate alleged non-remittances and revenue discrepancies from 2015 to 2022;
Ensure compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the CBN Act, and other financial regulations.
The investigation is expected to shine a spotlight on one of the most significant financial accountability issues to emerge in recent years.
