AGF to agencies: Reject treasury staff, lose government funding

Accountant–General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris has urged Government MDAs that are in the habit of rejecting Treasury Staff posted to them to desist from such or be ready to face the consequences of their action.

This may include such MDA being denied access to the public payment platform manned by the OAGF.

He gave the warning in Abuja when he received the management team of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, (NASENI) lead by Acting Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive, Dr. Aliya Maje Adanan.

According to a statement from Head of press and public relations at OAGF, Oise Johnson, Idris wondered why some agencies, which rely on OAGF for releases of funds to implement their plans and programmes will, in turn, reject Treasury officers sent to them to help them manage their finances effectively.

“The office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has been vested with the mandate of handling all payments and receipts on behalf of Government.

“Treasury staff have been specially trained and equipped to perform these functions in MDAs in line with Financial Regulations and extant rules.

“he principle of transparency and accountability, which this administration stands for must be seen in practical terms and in line with international best practices.

Accordingly, these principles do not allow one to be a judge in his own case.

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“It is the role of Treasury officers to manage the Finance and Accounts Departments as well as the Internal Audit Units in MDAs.

“As long as you receive public funds from government, you must allow the Treasury officers to manage operations of the system and application of the funds” he emphasized.

The AGF further explained that Internal Auditors are sent to MDAs to ensure that funds are spent in line with laid down procedures and due processes.

“Ability of the Internal Auditor to perform his function as expected is predicted on his independence; which must be practical in the real sense of the word.

He added that “the Auditor cannot be said to be independent when he is employed by and paid by the same organisation, and this leads to compromise.”

He, therefore, called on heads/ chief executives of government agencies who do not have Treasury officers manning their Accounts and Internal Audit functions to reconsider their position and come forward to the Treasury for deployment of trained officers to manage their Accounts and Internal Audit departments in line with international best practices.

Adnan had earlier extolled the “remarkable achievements” of Idris since June 2015 when he was appointed.