THE House of Representatives on Wednesday descended into a rowdy session as lawmakers exchanged heated arguments over which committee should investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for allegedly failing to remit more than N16 trillion in government revenue.

Trouble began shortly after Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Mr Bamidele Salam, moved a motion alleging that the CBN had failed to remit more than N5 trillion in operating surplus and an additional N11 trillion in government revenue, in violation of extant public finance laws. He urged the House to compel the CBN governor, Mr Yemi Cardoso, to appear before the legislature over the alleged infractions.

Tensions escalated when an amendment was proposed to broaden the investigation beyond PAC by setting up a special ad-hoc committee comprising members of PAC and other finance-related committees. The suggestion immediately split the chamber. While some lawmakers argued that creating a new panel would undermine PAC’s constitutional mandate to scrutinise public expenditure, others insisted that the scale of the alleged infractions required a wider probe involving multiple committees.

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Mr Ghali Tijani, who moved the amendment, said the ad-hoc committee would focus solely on the matter and report back to the House. Supporting the proposal, Mr Babajimi Benson suggested that the committee included members from Public Accounts, Banking and Currency, and Finance, stressing that the intention was to strengthen, not weaken, PAC.

However, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen interjected, stating that the composition of the proposed committee was not immediately necessary and could be addressed later. His intervention triggered louder protests, with some lawmakers shouting, “We cannot populate the committee.”

Mr Olumide Osoba countered the amendment, arguing that the Public Accounts Committee, as a constitutional committee, should be allowed to conclude its investigation. “Its duties are clearly stated in our rule book,” he said.

Despite repeated pleas from the Speaker for calm, the chamber remained chaotic for nearly an hour. Mr Tijani eventually withdrew his amendment for the creation of an ad-hoc committee, but the disorder continued as lawmakers debated whether the CBN governor should appear before the entire House or only before PAC.

Visibly upset, Speaker Abbas berated his colleagues. “I am disappointed with our conduct,” he said angrily. “We are more than this. We cannot resolve issues democratically? Instead, we resort to shouting and insulting each other. This is very unparliamentary. We are before the world, and this is not the behaviour of honourable members.”

He specifically reprimanded Mr Mark Esset and Mr Kabiru Amadu, warning, “If you don’t stop this behaviour… we will take you to Ethics. I do not want to set an example in this House, but you are forcing me to.”

After calm gradually returned, Mr Ahmadu Jaha moved a fresh amendment directing that the CBN governor and all relevant agencies be summoned to appear before PAC without fail. The motion was adopted after a voice vote, with the majority in support.

Cardoso to appear next Tuesday

Meanwhile, House of Representatives later summoned Mr Cardoso and other relevant agencies to appear before its Public Accounts Committee Tuesday, December 16, to explain the non-remittance of over N5 trillion operating surplus and N11 trillion government revenue.

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Mr Bamidele noted that despite several formal communications and invitations extended to the Mr Cardoso by the Public Accounts Committee to appear, provide explanations, and remit the outstanding amounts into designated government accounts, he and the CBN have failed, refused, or neglected to honour the invitations or effect the required remittances as directed by the Committee.

Mr Bamidele noted that the Public Accounts Committee launched an investigation into the Auditor General’s Report of 2022 financial year and the administration of the Remita Revenue Collection System by the CBN, covering the period from March 1, 2015 to 30 April 2016.

Economy Post has written a number of stories from the report.