AGF Ogunjimi Pledges Independence, Unity at Treasury
By Patience Ikpeme
The newly appointed Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has assumed office with a promise to maintain independence from undue influence and foster unity within the Treasury.
Ogunjimi stated, “I’ve been a victim of a Chief Executive calling the Accountant-General to say, I don’t like this Director of Finance and Admin (DFA), I don’t like this director. Please remove him. I’m not going to follow that path.”
He assured directors deployed to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that he would provide fair hearings. “I’ll give everybody that open hearing. If anybody comes to me, I’m going to call the director-in-charge. Tell your own story or whatever you know about it. Then we’ll now decide whether it’s worth it.”
He also acknowledged the career implications of strained relationships with MDA heads. “Because sometimes your career may also be at stake. If your Chief Executive doesn’t want you, then there’s no point staying there. Because he or she may frustrate your functions or your life. So we amicably look for a better solution that will make your life also not miserable.”
Addressing Treasury staff, Ogunjimi encouraged open communication. “If there’s anything bothering you, disturbing you in the discharge of your functions, I’m here. Talk to me. I’m your AGF. Be free to come to me. I will listen to you. I’m a good listener. I will support you.”
He called for a unified approach within the Treasury. “We are one single family. I want that spirit to be in everybody. Whether you are a treasury officer or you are a support staff. The spirit of togetherness and oneness. Treasury is one. Whatever has happened, has happened. We have to move on. I am not in any group. We are not going to polarize the house. The task ahead is enormous. We can’t be fighting ourselves. We must achieve.”
Ogunjimi expressed his dedication to the institution vowing that, “I am ready to commit myself, my life, to the service of this institution. I may not have been who I am today if not for the opportunity provided to me by this service. Therefore, I am here to do everything possible to make sure that Treasury is at the head of all institutions in Nigeria. Please, I beg of you. I beg of you. The past is the past. Let us work, work, work.”
He concluded by challenging staff to improve the Treasury’s image. “Begin to ask yourself, what will you do to change the perception of the Treasury? So everything you are doing, every second, that you are doing will actually impact on the image of the Treasury.”
