The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other agencies to refund over ₦8 trillion under-remittances from 2010 to 2015 to the federation account.

The agencies involved are the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) among others.

The directive followed the adoption of the final report of the KMPG Audit of the Revenue-Generating Agencies (RGAs) submitted by the ad-hoc committee to the NEC meeting which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Chairman of the Committee and Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo told State House correspondents after the meeting that the KMPG technical report on the RGAs revealed that a sum of ₦526 billion and $21 billion was not paid to the Federation Account during the period under review.

He said the NEC adopted the resolution to identify instances where they many have been criminal infringements for possible prosecution, adding that the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun gave the suggestion that the affected agencies should be mandated to refund the underpaid amount.

“NEC’s Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Gombe State Governor with members including governors of Edo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and the Finance Minister recommended refunds of the amounts underpaid.

“Council adopted the presentations and reports of the KPMG and the recommendations of its Ad-hoc Committee including recommendation to identify instances where there appears to have been criminal infringements and forward such to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Legal committee of the National Economic Council for further action.

“Council resolved to pursue strengthening of the NNPC governance structure to prevent further recurrence of such gross under-remittance by the NNPC and other RGAs,” Dankwanbo said.

He added that the KPMG audit, which has been extended to 2017 is for the revenue generating agencies that have paid into the Federal Account and those that paid on behalf of some federal government agencies.