Tuesday October 28, 2025
TheNewsDESK |
By Nsikak AKPAN
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has urged the state government to establish a State Central Revenue Account (SCRA) to consolidate all government revenues, enhance transparency, and curb leakages in public financial management.
The call followed a motion on notice moved by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Bob, during plenary on Tuesday. The motion, titled “Urgent Need for Akwa Ibom State Government to Establish a State Central Revenue Account,” was brought pursuant to Order 3(1) of the Standing Orders of the House.
Presenting the motion, Rt. Hon. Bob recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2012, under the administration of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, proposed the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, which was later fully implemented by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to consolidate revenues from all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) into a single account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He noted that several states, including Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Lagos, and Oyo, have since domesticated similar digital payment systems that enable citizens to pay for taxes, levies, and other government services electronically through multiple channels such as mobile apps, USSD, and online payments.
Rt. Hon. Bob further explained that many countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Nigeria (through REMITA), have adopted integrated digital payment platforms to promote efficiency and accountability in public finance management. He added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognizes the TSA as a crucial tool for consolidating government cash resources, improving cash management, and enhancing fiscal transparency.
The House Leader expressed concern that Akwa Ibom could continue to suffer revenue leakages, unaccountable public funds, and difficulties in tracking appropriated funds if it fails to urgently adopt a centralized digital revenue system.
“If our state government does not urgently adopt and fully implement a State Central Revenue Account in this dwindling economy, we will continue to suffer revenue leakages and poor fiscal accountability,” Rt. Hon. Bob warned.
The motion therefore urged the Executive Arm of Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, in collaboration with the Accountant General’s Office and the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), to commence the creation and operation of a State Central Revenue Account before the 2026 fiscal year.
It also called for the design and deployment of a centralised multi-channel payment platform to integrate all MDAs and Local Government Areas, ensuring that all payments due to the government are collected electronically and automatically remitted to the central account.
Other resolutions of the motion included a call for the government to partner with reputable FinTech firms to develop a secure, inclusive, and scalable payment infrastructure that accommodates bank transfers, mobile apps, online wallets, card payments, and USSD channels accessible across both urban and rural communities in the state.
The motion further proposed that a public awareness campaign be launched ahead of the platform’s rollout to educate citizens, businesses, and public servants on its usage and benefits. It also recommended the establishment of an inter-agency oversight and implementation committee comprising representatives from the House of Assembly, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, Ministry of Justice, AKIRS, and the Office of the Accountant General.
Lawmakers who supported the motion commended Rt. Hon. Bob for the initiative, describing it as a timely and strategic step toward strengthening transparency, accountability, and revenue efficiency in Akwa Ibom State.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong directed the Clerk, Mrs. NsikakAbasi Orok to communicate the House Resolutions to the Executive accordingly.
