Reps Yet To Reconcile Alleged Non-remittances By NUPRC – Panel Chairman

Contrary to reports in some section of the media about the alleged revenue leakages in the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives said it was yet to reconcile figures with all the parties concerned.

The chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, disclosed this to journalists on Friday in Abuja.

He spoke while reacting to reports in some sections of the media that the House of Representatives had issued a 96-hour ultimatum to the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, over allegations concerning revenue leakages totalling N32,151,775,466.87 accrued to the coffers of the Commission on behalf of the Federal Government between 2015 and 2022.

The report had claimed that during the review of the documents submitted to the House Committee, the lawmakers alleged that the sum of N909,392,169.74 had been transferred directly to private accounts held with Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) without adhering to TSA protocols.

The report had also claimed significant discrepancies, including N15,476,269,397.10 in transactions listed in REMITA that were absent from the NUPRC data set, as well as the sum of N6,332,212,384.25 in transactions from the NUPRC data set that did not appear in REMITA.

But, speaking on the development, Hon. Salam  said the committee was yet to take a final decision as it was an ongoing investigation.

He said that since investigations have not been concluded, all parties would meet by Monday for reconciliation of figures.

The lawmaker said, “It is an ongoing investigation and continues on Monday 4th where all parties will meet for reconciliation of figures.”

The Commission insisted that Komolafe had been implementing initiatives aimed at promoting accountability, transparency, and good governance in its operations.

The tireless efforts of NUPRC have earned the commission a recognition as a beacon of integrity and accountability.

Speaking on the allegations, the NUPRC’s spokesperson, Olaide Shonola, said the Commission has not been given the opportunity to present its figures before the Legislative Committee to warrant conclusions being circulated in the media.

The spokesperson added that any such conclusion about revenue leakage was presumptuous, disparaging, and unfair to the regulator.

Shonola said, “The NUPRC has not had the opportunity to present his figures before the Committee to warrant conclusions being circulated in the media.

“Therefore, any such conclusion about revenue leakage is presumptuous , disparaging, and unfair to NUPRC.”