A stormy debate broke out in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion calling for an investigation into the alleged failure of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to remit trillions of naira in government revenue between 2016 and 2022.
The motion, sponsored by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Bamidele Salam, stemmed from troubling disclosures in the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report and ongoing PAC inquiries into federal revenues processed through the Remita payment platform.
According to Salam, preliminary committee findings indicate that the CBN has yet to remit ₦5.2 trillion in operating surpluses owed to the Federal Government over the six-year period. The committee’s review also uncovered several additional inconsistencies, including:
- ₦954 million in unreturned Remita transaction charges.
- ₦11 billion difference between the apex bank’s reported collections and PAC’s own assessments.
- ₦3.28 billion outstanding, to be recalculated with interest at the current Monetary Policy Rate of 27.25%.
- A further ₦19.8 billion discrepancy in figures submitted by the CBN.
Tensions spiked when Rep. Ghali Mustapha Tijanni (Kano) proposed transferring the investigation from PAC to a special ad hoc committee. The suggestion triggered a wave of resistance, with lawmakers shouting over one another and refusing to yield ground. The chamber briefly descended into chaos as opposing factions traded verbal jabs.
Those in support of PAC’s continued oversight—among them Rep. Ahmed Jaha (Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza)—argued that the committee was already seized of the matter. Jaha moved an amendment compelling the CBN Governor and all officials connected to Remita revenue processing to appear before PAC without delay.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas found himself repeatedly intervening to restore decorum. Visibly irritated, he reprimanded lawmakers for what he described as unbecoming conduct, warning that the disorder was tarnishing the image of the House.
“You are shouting as though asking the question deprives you of your rights,” Abbas cautioned. “This is not the conduct expected of honourable members.”
He singled out Hon. Mark Esset and Hon. Kabir Maipalas, threatening to refer them to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges if the disruptions continued.
“I do not want to make an example of anyone, but you are pushing me toward that decision,” he warned.
After several failed attempts to take a vote amid the shouting, order was finally restored. The House adopted both the main motion and Jaha’s amendment, with resounding “ayes” carrying the day.
Under the resolution, the CBN Governor and relevant officials must now appear before the Public Accounts Committee. PAC has been empowered to thoroughly probe the alleged non-remittance of funds and revenue inconsistencies from 2015 to 2022, and to ensure strict adherence to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the CBN Act, and established financial regulations.
The investigation is expected to shed new light on what could be one of the most significant accountability questions facing the nation’s financial management system.
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