The Accountant Basic of the Federation (AGF), Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, has stated that her workplace doesn’t immediately execute funds for tasks and packages undertaken by Ministries, Departments, and Companies (MDAs).
This assertion comes within the wake of contentious reviews surrounding a request by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to make a N585 million cost to a non-public account.
The AGF underlined that whereas allocations are launched to MDAs by the price range, these entities bear the only duty for implementing their tasks and managing associated expenditures.
What the assertion says
An announcement by the Director (Press) of the Workplace of the Accountant Basic of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, learn:
- “The AGF defined that though her Workplace acquired the stated request from the Ministry, it didn’t perform the cost. The Ministry was nonetheless suggested on the suitable steps to absorb making such funds in step with the established cost process.
- “The AGF famous that in such conditions, funds are often processed by the affected Ministries as self-accounting entities, and no bulk cost is meant to be made to a person’s account within the title of Challenge Accountant.
- “She added that such cost must be despatched to the beneficiaries by means of their verified financial institution accounts.
- “Dr Madein reiterated her willpower to uphold the rules of accountability and transparency within the administration of public funds. She suggested MDAs to at all times be certain that the requisite steps are taken in finishing up monetary transactions. “
Extra Insights
The controversy surrounding the switch of N585 million of public funds into a non-public account includes Betta Edu, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
The controversy gained traction when the letter requesting the fund switch surfaced on social media.
In keeping with a news report, Betta Edu requested the Accountant-Basic to switch N585 million to a non-public account belonging to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, recognized because the mission accountant for the Renewed Hope Grant for weak teams.
This request was made in a letter, with Edu stating that the funds had been supposed for weak teams in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States.
In protection of her actions, Edu confirmed that she requested the Accountant-Basic to ship public funds to a non-public account.
She argued that the cost adopted due course of and was supposed to implement grants for weak teams within the talked about states.
Edu’s Particular Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, emphasised that the grant adopted due course of, and Oniyelu Bridget was legally the Challenge Accountant for the grant from the Division of Finance.
Edu rebuffed allegations of misconduct, describing them as baseless and a sponsored try and tarnish her popularity.
Madein, in her assertion from Abuja, acknowledged receiving Edu’s request however clarified that the AGF’s workplace didn’t execute the cost.
She suggested the Ministry on adhering to established cost procedures, emphasizing that funds ought to usually be processed by the involved Ministries as self-accounting entities.
She additional famous that bulk funds shouldn’t be made to a person’s account beneath the guise of a Challenge Accountant, advocating for direct transfers to beneficiaries’ verified financial institution accounts.
Madein reaffirmed her unwavering dedication to upholding transparency and accountability in public finance administration.
She urged MDAs to stick strictly to prescribed monetary transaction protocols, making certain that every one steps are duly adopted within the dealing with of public funds.