The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation says it will on Monday, close accounts of ministries, departments and agencies that have not remitted money to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
This is contained in a statement signed by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Thursday in Abuja.
“This process of systematic closure will continue until all monies that should be in the consolidated revenue fund are retrieved,’’ it said.
It said that the ministry identified about N58 billion which belonged to the CRF.
According to the statement, the ministry observes that some Federal Government agencies that generate independent revenues in collusion with some banks refused to remit monies to CRF.
“This unwholesome practice has persisted despite the efforts of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to encourage the agencies and the affected banks to do the right thing.
“Rather than comply, the agencies and banks, through their lawyers, have engaged in all manner of legal subterfuges to ensure that monies which are due to the Federal Government are not remitted.
“This conspiracy against the national interest is clear- to keep government monies indefinitely in accounts earning interest for individuals at the expense of the Federal Government and the Nigerian people,’’ it said .
It said the situation was totally unacceptable and the Federal Ministry of Finance was determined to end the practice.
