FG to States: ‘Settle Your Debts, Stop Leakages’
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to state governments, declaring it will no longer bear the weight of their unpaid liabilities.
This decision is aimed at fostering financial responsibility and accountability. The Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, has called on state governments to address revenue leakages and enhance their revenue generation and collection mechanisms.
Dr. Madein argued that by optimizing their revenue streams, state governments can “ensure that state governments received their revenues as and when due and the Federal Government will not be burdened by unpaid liabilities.”
This directive was issued during her working visit to the Federal Pay Office in Kano, Kano State, where she addressed Federal Pay Officers (FPOs).
In addition to addressing state government liabilities, the Accountant General reiterated her mandate to FPOs to ensure that Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the states adhere strictly to the Federal Government’s public financial management reform initiatives. She charged the FPOs to exercise financial prudence and embrace the new financial reform initiatives in the discharge of their duties.
A statement released by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), signed by Bawa Mokwa, Director (Press and Public Relations), detailed Dr. Madein’s address.
She revealed the imminent phasing out of manual processes in financial activities, emphasizing the critical role of modern technology in the accounting profession.
“The use of manual process in carrying out financial activities will soon be over, adding that the use of modern technology in accounting profession is key and vital,” Dr. Madein stated.
She further revealed that the OAGF has initiated the establishment of an enterprise concept management system, which will digitalize all financial activities and subsequently be extended to the FPOs. This move is aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency in financial operations.
Dr. Madein also encouraged FPOs to adopt the performance management system, which will replace the annual performance evaluation report (APER). She explained that this system will cover all staff and will be used to measure management performance, she urged all FPOs to become computer literate and digitally proficient.
“The AGF encouraged FPOs to also embrace the performance management system which will replace the annual performance evaluation report (APER), adding that it involves all staff and will be used in the measurement of management performance, urging all FPOs to be computer literate and digitally ready,” the statement read.
During her visit, Dr. Madein reiterated the importance of FPOs complying with the provisions of the public financial management reform initiatives of the Federal Government.
Earlier, Aminu Umar, Chairman of the Committee of FPOs North West Zone, expressed his appreciation to the Accountant General for her visit, acknowledging its significance as a “pace setter for the incoming Accountant General after your leave.”
