Reps Probe TETFund, Demand 7-Year Audited Accounts Over ‘Budget Discrepancies’

The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) activities, citing alleged budget discrepancies and non-compliance with constitutional provisions on public fund scrutiny.

The move followed a motion presented by Hon. Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, Chairman of the Committee on North West Development Commission and the lawmaker representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State.

In the motion, Gumi said the 2024 budget presented by TETFund lacked the necessary breakdowns and expenditure details required by law.

He also raised alarm over alleged discrepancies in tax collections, remittances, and the judicious utilisation of education tax funds, which are vital for advancing tertiary education in the country.

The lawmaker noted that Section 1 of the TETFund Act of 2011 mandates the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to assess and collect education taxes from companies in Nigeria, which are subsequently remitted to TETFund for disbursement to eligible tertiary institutions.

Gumi, however, said alleged discrepancies in the administration and allocation of the funds by TETFund call for concern and a probe.

In response, the House directed TETFund to halt all fund disbursements until detailed breakdowns of its proposed 2025 budget are scrutinised and approved.

TETFund must also provide comprehensive details of its 2024 allocations and 2025 proposed budget estimates to beneficiary institutions.

Additionally, the House mandated that TETFund submit reports of audited accounts and beneficiary institutions’ receipts from 2018 to date.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was also asked to provide records of education tax payments and total yearly collections since 2011.

The House further mandated its Committee on TETFund and Other Services to implement the resolutions and report back within four weeks

Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations to expose corruption, wastage, and inefficiency in public fund management.

The section partly reads, “(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, each House of the National Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation to direct or cause to be directed investigation into…

“(a) any matter or thing to which it has power to make laws, and

“(b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for…

“(i) executing or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly, and

“(ii) disbursing or administering money appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.”

Section 89 reads in part, “(1) For any investigation under Section 88 of this Constitution and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate, the House of Representatives or a committee appointed under Section 62 of this Constitution shall have power to:

“(a) procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter;

“(b) require such evidence to be given on oath;

“(c) summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control.”

Reps Probe TETFund, Demand 7-Year Audited Accounts Over ‘Budget Discrepancies’ is first published on The Whistler Newspaper