In a society that aspires to the ideals of justice and integrity, truth must be framed not in the heat of political emotion but through the cool lens of verifiable fact. The principle of due process, a cornerstone of every democratic system, demands that all individuals and institutions be accorded the right to fair, objective scrutiny before any judgment is passed and pronouncements are made. In matters of public interest, especially those involving critical national infrastructure like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), objectivity must not be sacrificed on the altar of sentiment or sensationalism.
The recent pronouncement by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Bamidele Salam, that Remita, a leading financial technology company in Africa that provides payment solutions to governments, individuals and businesses, should refund a staggering N182 billion allegedly withheld from the TSA since 2015, raises profound questions, not just about the claim itself, but about the nature of discourse and investigation in our polity. This directive followed the submission of an investigative report by consulting firm Seyi Katola & Company (Chartered Accountants) during an investigative hearing in Abuja. This article aims to unravel the background, provide necessary context and stimulate qualitative discourse on the issue.
The Federal Government TSA Initiative