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By Gloria Ikibah

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, has called on civil servants across the country to uphold integrity, professionalism and due process in the discharge of their duties, describing the public service as a critical pillar of national development.

Faleke made the call in Abuja during the launch of a book titled “The Nigerian Legislature: A Practical Guide for Lawmakers”, written by the retiring Clerk of the House Committee on Finance, Mr Oscar Okoro, as part of activities marking his 60th birthday and retirement from service.

The lawmaker praised Okoro’s dedication, commitment and work ethic, describing him as a model civil servant whose career should serve as an inspiration to younger generations entering public service.

According to Faleke, civil servants occupy a strategic position in governance and have a responsibility to ensure that government processes are carried out in accordance with established rules and procedures.

He said: “The civil service mainly, they build the country. They are the technocrats. They are the people that we, politicians rely on.
“And if the civil servant decide to get this done properly, I think the country will better off. Even when the politician says let us do it the other way and he says no, let us follow the rules. I think Nigeria will better off.

“It is about dedication to the development of Nigeria, when you trust and believe in the country, you will want to see the success of the country.

“Okoro is a very, very hardworking guy, unlike others, he is not money conscious, he just wants to see things accordingly and appreciably.

“And for every time I push him hard, he works harder; I believe he’ is going to succeed very well in his retirement, so I wish him luck, and I pray that the family would not get the better of him”.

Faleke noted that Nigeria will benefit greatly if public servants remained committed to professionalism and resisted pressures to circumvent established procedures.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Rep. Abubakar Saidu, said his relationship with Okoro had grown beyond official duties and evolved into a family bond over the years.

He described the retiring clerk as a consummate professional whose conduct and dedication to service should serve as a guide for younger public servants.
According to him:

“He is very dedicated, very patient, he is a professional, excellent and committed as well as exemplary when it comes to the job,” he said.

Saidu added that future generations of civil servants will have much to learn from Okoro’s approach to public service and his commitment to excellence.

In his remarks, House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, described Okoro as an outstanding public servant whose contributions to the National Assembly and the country would not be forgotten.

Rotimi commended him for what he described as years of meritorious service and dedication to legislative administration.

“My encouragement to people in service is that, this is the kind of person to model and pattern their careers after, people that have integrity and diligence their watch word,” he said.

Rotimi said that though the system has inbuilt mentorship and leadership recruitment processes, Okoro’ wealth of experience and expertise will be greatly missed.

Responding, Okoro attributed his success in life to God Almighty saying that life itself is very difficult and cautious journey.

“You have to know your onions, be hardworking, be patient, humble and respectful; if these are lacking, you are bound to fail either in the National Assembly or anywhere in life,” he said.

Okoro said that he would return to legal practice, consultancy and dedicate the rest of his life to mentorship of younger generations and service to God.

Earlier, the book reviewer, Prof. Kabir Danladi of the Department of Public Law, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) said that the book is a demonstration of hardwork and dedication to service exhibited by the author in the 27 years service to the nation.

He said that the book provides a practical and institutional guide for the Nigerians legislature with focus on the National Assembly.

The professor said that the books covers the constitutional foundation of National Assembly, internal structure, legislative procedure, oversight functions and its relationship with other arms of government.

Danladi said that the 335 pages book is structured acrossed nine chapters, each addressing a distinct legislative life from historical foundation, constitutional law to practical step-by-step guidance on legislative procedure.

He said that there is alternative to reading especially for those who want to grasp the knowledge therein saying that reading is a command for human development and progress.

The professor recommended the book for all lawmakers, politicians and for all Nigerians to read and enhance the understanding of the legislature.

The event drew lawmakers, parliamentary staff, family members and associates who gathered to celebrate Okoro’s retirement and the launch of his book, which offers practical insights into legislative procedures and the workings of Nigeria’s parliament.

Many of the speakers described the book as a valuable resource for lawmakers, legislative aides and students seeking a deeper understanding of parliamentary practice in Nigeria.

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The Plateau Advocates for Peaceful Co-existence has faulted former Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, over what it described as a misleading claim that highways leading to Jos are unsafe for travellers.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mr. Bulus Ayuba, the group said Dalung’s remarks amounted to a false narrative capable of demarketing Plateau State and discouraging visitors, investors and residents from carrying out lawful social and economic activities.
Ayuba acknowledged that some rural communities in the state had suffered attacks over the years, but insisted that such incidents should not be used to misrepresent the entire state or diminish its identity as the “Home of Peace and Tourism.”
According to him, the people of Plateau have continued to show resilience, hospitality and unity despite security challenges in some areas.
He urged the public to disregard what he called Dalung’s misleading assertion and continue with lawful commercial, social and economic activities that support livelihoods and promote national cohesion.
The group maintained that major routes from Abuja, Bauchi and Gombe to Jos remain accessible and safe for travellers, adding that business activities are going on unhindered across the state.
It also stated that highways linking Plateau North, Plateau Central and Plateau South are safe for movement.
Ayuba further argued that Jos has remained a safe haven for thousands of internally displaced persons fleeing insecurity from parts of the North-East and other regions of the country.
He said this reality confirms the relative peace, stability and hospitality that Plateau State continues to offer residents and visitors.
“Plateau remains the Home of Peace and Tourism. The fact that some rural communities have endured attacks does not erase the identity, resilience and welcoming spirit of the people,” the statement added.

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…as PAC intensify crackdown on revenue leakages

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recovered N521,765,134.17 in unremitted Value Added Tax (VAT) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), marking another milestone in its ongoing investigation into revenue leakages and unremitted government funds.

The recovery emerged from a wide-ranging probe into transactions conducted through the Remita payment platform, an investigation launched following a resolution of the House of Representatives on a motion titled “Investigation of Revenue Leakages Through Remita Platform and Non-Compliance Substantively with Standard Operating Procedure and Other Allied Service Level Agreement.”

The House subsequently mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the allegations and recover all outstanding funds due to the Federal Government.

Under the leadership of Committee Chairman, Rep. Bamidele Salam, the panel has undertaken an extensive review of financial transactions, remittances and compliance obligations linked to the Remita platform, with a focus on identifying revenue leakages and ensuring accountability in government revenue collection.

According to findings by the committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria failed to remit VAT amounting to N521,765,134.17, representing the tax component on fees earned from Remita transactions over a period spanning November 2018 to April 2024.

Following the discovery, the committee directed the apex bank to remit the outstanding amount into the Federal Government Treasury and provide evidence of compliance.

In a letter dated May 7, 2026, the CBN informed the committee that it had complied with the directive and submitted documentation confirming that the entire sum had been paid into government coffers.

Speaking on the recovery, Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, said the development underscored the importance of legislative oversight in protecting public funds and promoting accountability across public institutions.

According to him, the recovery demonstrates the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight in safeguarding government revenue and ensuring that all agencies comply with their statutory obligations.

He reiterated the committee’s determination to recover every kobo owed to the Federal Government and close loopholes that enable revenue leakages within public institutions.

The committee disclosed that its engagement with the Central Bank remains ongoing, particularly regarding the reconciliation and recovery of additional outstanding liabilities identified during the investigation.

Among the amounts still under review are unrefunded charges valued at N954,302,576.67 and accrued interest of N2,329,027,728.92, bringing the total recoverable amount in that category to N3,283,330,305.59 for the period between March 1 and October 31, 2015.

The committee is also pursuing the recovery of unrefunded Treasury Single Account (TSA) collections amounting to N8,993,551,555.94, alongside accrued interest estimated at N20,727,241,152.04.

Together, the outstanding TSA-related liability stands at N29,720,792,707.98.

With additional sums still being scrutinised, the total amount under investigation runs into tens of billions of naira.

The Public Accounts Committee said it will continue its hearing into the matter on Monday, June 8, 2026, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja as efforts intensify to recover outstanding public funds and strengthen financial accountability across government institutions.

The latest recovery adds to a growing list of funds reclaimed by the committee as part of its ongoing drive to ensure transparency, improve revenue collection and prevent losses to the nation’s treasury.