There are indications that there is in some federal government agencies marked for investigation for corrupt practices.
This is as President Muhammadu Buhari led government is set to appoint two reputable international firm for a forensic audit of accounts of all its revenue generating agencies.
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, at a briefing in Abuja on Thursday night, listed the agencies as Nigerian Customs, Securities and Exchange Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilisation and Allocation Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Ports Authority, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, NEITI, among others
The governor disclosed that the audit of the affected agencies would cover the period between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015.
Oshiomhole, is a member of the National Economic Council committee set up to investigate the financial accounts of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) among others.
Others are Governors Nasir el-Rufia (Kaduna), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe).
At a meeting by the quartet, Oshiomhole explained that the committee has begun investigations to unravel how revenues generated by these agencies are spent, adding that the task of the Committee was very enormous to undertake.
His words: “Given our mandate, we have agreed to appoint two reputable international firms to carry out a thorough forensic audit, not only of NNPC, but all the monies that are accrued to the Federation account.
“Although people talk about excess crude account but have other revenues like bonuses, royalties, taxes, that part of it also flows into the Federation Account which form part of the budget of the National Assembly.
“So we are taking a holistic review of the entire revenue generating agencies that make contributions into Federation Account.
“So we are convinced that by appointing audit firms, we will allow professionals to carry out the exercise which will be free from political connection.
“We are sure that the outcome of the investigation will command the trust and confidence of all the stakeholders,” he added.
He added that if the audit reports recommend that the government should carry out further investigations, it would be done.
“All the books of these agencies would be opened in line with the present administration’s mantra of transparency and accountability, noting that no agency of government would have any protection not be investigated.”
Oshiomhole added that the two audit firms would be made public next Thursday after the meeting of the committee with other agencies of government.
They are Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others..
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