- Inaugurates Task Force on GIFMIS implementation
BY COBHAM NSA, ABUJA – Determined to further strengthen accountability and transparency in public financial system, including the Armed Forces and paramilitary agencies, the Federal Government on Tuesday set the stage to fully implement the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
The move is against the backdrop of worrying financial regulations’ abuses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as security agencies and the intelligence community.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who inaugurated an Inter-ministerial Task Force on GIFMIS in Abuja, said the programme was developed by different government agencies to enhance effectiveness of government financial activities.
According to her, the programme was “jointly developed by the OAGF, BOF, DMO, CBN and FIRS, in consultations with other stakeholders”, adding that “GIFMIS is part of Pillar 3 of the National Strategy for Public Service Reform aimed at making the Nigerian Public service world class anchored on optimum service delivery to the citizenry.”
Mrs Ahmed said the system will increase “internal controls to prevent and detect potential and actual fraud, access to information on Government’s cash position and improves medium term planning through Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).”
The Minister further explained that; “The overall objective of government is to implement a computerized financial management information system for the FGN, which is efficient, effective and and increases the ability of Federal Government to undertake central control and monitoring of expenditure and receipts in the MDAs as well as Increase the ability to access information on financial and operational performance.”
She said though the MDAs are effectively deploying the system for their financial services delivery, the armed forces and the intelligence community have raised some concerns, adding that the Task Force is expected to address these concerns to ensure the GIFMIS is successfully implemented.
Mrs Ahmed said the concerns relate to the Military and the Intelligence Agencies covert operational expenses and other non-regular allowances for personnel and officers which are mainly cash based.
Also speaking at the event, Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris noted that the GIFMIS, initiated about eight years ago, is not popular among MDAs, which explains why his office is driving the process in managing government resources effectively.
He said GIFMIS started in 2012 with 93 pilot MDAs and currently has over 800 MDAs at all levels using it for budget implementation, adding; “Today, 105 MDAs deploy all functionalities of GIFMIS effectively.”
Expected to proffer solutions to concerns raised, the Task Force has three weeks to conclude work and submit its report.
Its terms of reference include reviewing the application of GIFMIS in the Armed Forces for Budget Preparation; and the application of GIFMIS in the Armed Forces for Bottom-up Cash Planning.
The Task Force will also review the application of GIFMIS in the Armed Forces for Procurement; and commitment to Management Process among others
