SO MONEY IS INDEED MISSING? ... WE DON'T JUST GIVE A DAMN : FG charges taskforce on unremitted $9.6bn ... VanguardNews

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Inter Ministerial Task Team, IMTT to recover un-remitted $9.6 billion contained in the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI Audit Report.
The development stems from the lacklustre attitudes of major players in the extractive industries, especially in the oil and gas sector towards remittance of revenues.
The government also charged the IMTT to ensure prompt recovery of all outstanding revenues, comprising underpayments and unreconciled differences identified in the various NEITI Audit Reports.
Although concerted efforts by NEITI and the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS had resulted in the recovery of $2 billion, government charged the team to also work closely with NEITI and ensure prompt recovery of all outstanding revenues due to the Federation.
NEITI in a statement issued in Abuja, said the IMTT was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
The IMTT, which is chaired by the NEITI Chairman, Mr. Ledum Mitee, was also charged to examine the findings and recommendations in NEITI Audit Reports, and give advice to affected relevant agencies on appropriate steps to address the issues.
The Taskforce is equally charged to identify any bottlenecks to the realisation of the above, and make any necessary recommendations to Government through the SGF. It is also to undertake any other measures desirable to ensure that recommendations by NEITI add value to ongoing reforms in the industry.
The team is also to advise the Federal Executive Council on any issue in the NEITI Audit Report findings that needs the Council’s intervention.
Other members of the team include the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources; Group Managing Director, NNPC; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation & Fiscal Commission; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Others are the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF); Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS; Auditor General of the Federation; Chief Economic Adviser to the President; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; and Managing Director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC.
In the team are also the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA;  Chairman, Nigeria Miners Association, NMA;  Director General, Mining Cadastral Office, MCO; and Chairman, Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Anyim was quoted in the statement as saying that the inauguration of IMTT was an indication of Government’s firm belief that transparency in the sector would definitely impact positively on other sectors, thereby limiting wastage, significantly reducing corruption, as well as increasing overall revenue.”
He urged the members of the reconstituted Task Team to remain resolute and carry out this important national assignment with determination, while exhibiting the highest level of commitment and professionalism capable of creating the desired impact of EITI Implementation in the country.
It would be recalled that Nigeria signed up to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, in 2003, commenced implementation in 2004, and institutionalised the implementation of the initiative with the NEITI Act 2007.
When Nigeria signed up to the initiative, it was a conscious decision based on a clear conviction that once transparency is implanted in the management of the nation’s abundant extractive resources, it will boost Government’s efforts toward poverty reduction. It will also enhance sustainable development, social harmony as well as improve the investment climate in the country.