THE NATIONAL Business and Technical Examinations Board has failed to remit over 154 million naira in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the Federal Government coffers.
This was made in the annual report of the Auditor General of the Federation on the non-compliance and internal control weaknesses in ministries, departments, and agencies of the government for the year 2021.
The report noted that the board’s zonal office in Benin, Edo State generated N1,141,710,737.07 from the examination pins and certificates sales.
It explained that over 285.4 million naira which is 25 percent of the generated revenue was supposed to be remitted as IGR to the federal government.
However, the board remitted 131.2 million naira to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), leaving a balance of 154.1 million naira as unremitted revenue.
The report noted that there was no concrete justification for the balance of 154.1 million naira that was not remitted.
The Explainer noted that this revelation contradicts the provision in paragraph 236 of the federal Financial Regulation (2009).
It says, “Revenue paid into revenue account for Internally Generated Revenue of MDAs shall be transferred into CRF before the 15th of the month following the collection of the revenue.”
Responding to the auditor general’s finding, the management of the board said that its position is in line with global best practices which recognized education (assessment and certification) at a post-basic good which should be financed fully or subsidized by the government.
It stressed that the money received from the sales are fees which are not adequate to conduct examinations that the board conducted.
The Auditor General, however, recommended that the registrar of the board should account to the Public Account Committee of the National Assembly on the reason why the sum of 154.1 million naira was not remitted as IGR.
It also, noted that the amount should be returned to the treasury.
