FCTA investigates 13 years deductions from workers salaries

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the auditing of  remittances of monies deducted from workers salaries from 2010 to 2022.

The Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, inaugurated the exercise on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the investigation would cover statutory and non-statutory deductions from the payroll of workers.

Adesola said that the action was necessary to ensure timely remittance of all deductions to third-party beneficiaries.

He added that the auditing was in line with the FCTA’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsible financial management.

The permanent secretary also said the investigation was to avoid the current situation in which FCTA retirees had been unable to claim their National Housing Funds (NHF) contributions from the Federal Mortgage Bank.

Adesola said that an auditing firm, M/S G.E. Osagie and Co., has been engaged to conduct the audit from 2010 to 2022.

The permanent secretary said that firm would investigate taxes, pension, and insurance deductions, as well as employee’s contributions to cooperative societies and other welfare programmes.

According to him, the goal is to establish the total liabilities of the unremitted statutory and non-statutory deductions, due to third party beneficiaries.

“It will also determine the payments made to the various receivers of the statutory and non-statutory payments on behalf of each staff of the FCTA for NHF, Health Insurance Scheme, Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and cooperatives.

“The exercise is to also determine outstanding obligations and ascertain individuals and officials responsible where deductions were not made, and make recommendations as appropriate.

“This will ensure that the amounts deducted from our employees’ salaries are promptly remitted to the rightful beneficiaries.”

Adesola said remittance of the payroll deductions play pivotal role in promoting the welfare of workers.

He told the firm to carry out the assignment in compliance with the terms, scope and responsibility as stipulated in the contract agreement.

The permanent secretary said the firm should make recommendations that would henceforth ensure seamless remittance of all deductions.

In his remarks, Mr Korede Matilukoro, Chairman, FCTA Joint Unions Action Committee, said that exercise would cover deductions from the salaries of about 40,000 workers.

Matilukoro noted that FCTA workers have been struggling with the delay in the remittance of deductions to third parties for a long time.

He said that the workers were particularly concerned that they have been unable to access loans from the Federal Mortgage Banks, despite being major contributors to the NHF.

He assured the consultant of the support and cooperation of FCTA workers to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

The Managing Consultant of the auditing firm, Mr Godwin Osagie pledged to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and transparency in carrying out the exercise. (NAN)