The House of Representatives descended into a heated and chaotic session on Wednesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion seeking an in-depth investigation into alleged ₦16.3 trillion in unremitted funds and revenue discrepancies linked to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The contentious debate, which erupted during plenary in Abuja, stemmed from findings presented by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) following its review of government revenues collected through the Remita platform, as highlighted in the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report.
According to PAC’s findings, the apex bank carried an undisputed liability of ₦5.2 trillion in unremitted operating surpluses between 2016 and 2022.
The Committee further uncovered additional anomalies, including:
₦954.3 million in charges allegedly collected by the CBN on Remita transactions but not refunded;
A ₦11.09 billion discrepancy between the CBN’s reported collections and PAC’s computation from the same dataset;
₦3.28 billion total amount due for refund after the application of the 27.25% Monetary Policy Rate (MPR);
A ₦19.8 billion variance in figures submitted by the CBN.
These discrepancies triggered immediate concern among lawmakers, who insisted that the allegations required urgent scrutiny.
CBN Non-Remittance Probe: Lawmakers Divided as Tensions Flare
The session became increasingly tense when Rep. Ghali Mustapha Tijanni (Kano) moved an amendment proposing that the investigation be transferred from the Public Accounts Committee to a newly constituted ad-hoc committee.
His proposal instantly divided the chamber, with several lawmakers arguing that transferring the matter to an ad-hoc committee would undermine PAC’s ongoing work.
Supporters of the PAC insisted that the CBN non-remittance probe fell squarely within the Committee’s jurisdiction and that diverting the investigation would raise suspicion and weaken legislative oversight.
Shouts, interruptions, and heated exchanges followed as lawmakers struggled to assert their positions.
In an effort to de-escalate the row, Rep. Ahmed Jaha (Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza) moved a counter-amendment urging the House to summon the CBN Governor and other relevant agencies to appear before the Public Accounts Committee for a comprehensive CBN non-remittance probe.
His motion, however, sparked immediate objections from some members who attempted to shout it down, pushing the chamber into a near-chaotic atmosphere.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, visibly frustrated by the disorder, intervened decisively to restore decorum.
In a stern address, he rebuked the lawmakers for conduct he described as unbecoming of elected representatives.
“You are shouting as if putting the question will take away a right that belongs to you,” he cautioned.
“This is not the behaviour of an honourable member. The entire world is watching us.”
The Speaker specifically warned Reps Mark Esset and Kabir Maipalas, threatening to refer them to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges if the disruptions continued.
CBN Governor Summoned as House Approves Full-Scale Investigation
After order was restored, Speaker Abbas restated Jaha’s amendment and subjected it to voice vote. Despite renewed shouts of “aye” and “nay,” the Speaker repeated the vote twice before ruling that the “ayes” had it.
With the motion adopted, the House officially mandated the Public Accounts Committee to:
Summon the CBN Governor and all officials responsible for Remita revenue administration from 2015 to 2022;
Conduct a full-scale CBN non-remittance probe into alleged revenue discrepancies and unremitted operating surpluses;
Ensure compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the CBN Act, and all relevant financial regulations.
Lawmakers supporting the PAC welcomed the decision, describing it as a critical step toward ensuring transparency in the management of federal revenues.
Others, however, expressed reservations about the politicisation of the process, suggesting that the magnitude of the allegations demanded caution, neutrality, and strict adherence to procedure.
The stakes surrounding the investigation remain high, as the alleged ₦16.3 trillion gap represents one of the most significant financial accountability issues raised in the National Assembly in recent years.
Analysts note that the outcome of the CBN non-remittance probe may have far-reaching implications for fiscal governance, public trust, and financial sector regulation.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations monitoring the proceedings have called for openness, urging the House to resist internal pressures and ensure the probe is thorough, impartial, and free of political interference.
