BY COBHAM NSA – The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Madein, has directed all Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) to monitor Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) within their jurisdictions for strict compliance with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
Additionally, she said the FPOs must embrace transparency, dedication and professionalism in discharging their official responsibilities at all times.
According to her, MDAs are prohibited from operating accounts with commercial banks without express presidential approval, which must be formally communicated by the AGF and adhere to established rules and guidelines
Speaking during a working visit to the Federal Pay Office in Benin, Edo State in continuation of her nationwide tour of Federal Pay Offices, Dr Madein said it is the responsibility of FPOs to ensure MDAs in the States comply with the Federal Government’s public financial management reform initiatives.
She said as the representatives of the OAGF, the FPOs must live up to expectation, conduct their activities with utmost dedication and shun all acts capable of negatively impacting the Federal Treasury’s image.
While reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to the TSA policy, Dr Madein urged the FPOs to monitor and ensure MDAs in the States do not circumvent the policy’s provisions, including operating any account with the commercial banks in the country.
She also tasked the FPO to always maintain correct, presentable and acceptable records in line with approved standards, adding; “No matter how good you are, if your record doesn’t show this, it would be difficult to adjudge that you are efficient and transparent.
“Make sure that your records are correct at all times, that they are presentable and that they meet the required standards”.
Stressing that officials from the Treasury headquarters will sustain routine visits to FPOs to scrutinise their records for efficient and effective service delivery, Dr. Madein said it was imperative for the Officers to be acquainted with the rules and regulations spelled out in the Financial Regulations, the Constitution, the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and other documents relevant to the public finance management policies.
Dr Madein also disclosed that the Federal Government is constructing Federal Pay Offices in some States across the country, in an effort to permanently resolve the accommodation and allied challenges facing many of the Offices.
She emphasised that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) will continue to give utmost priority to the welfare and well being of staff in the Federal Pay Offices.
A statement issued by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) indicated that the AGF’s tour of FPOs is for a first-hand assessment of their operations and challenges nationwide.
