Reject Treasury staff, risk being shut out from treasury-controlled payment platforms – AGF

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has urged Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies 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, which among other things will ultimately lead to such MDA being denied access to the public payment platform manned by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Idris gave this indication in Abuja when he received in audience the management team of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, led by the Acting Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive, Dr. Aliyu Maje Adanan.

He wondered why some Agencies, who rely on the Accountant General of the Federation 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.

He said: “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.

“It should be noted that Treasury Staff have been specially trained and equipped to perform these functions in MDAs in line with Financial Regulations and extant rules.

“The 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. 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.”

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

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.

Earlier, Adnan had extolled the “remarkable achievements” of the Accountant General of the Federation since June 2015 when he was appointed.