Accountant General Disputes Ministry’s Payment Claim, Cites Illegality in Private Account Transaction

By Iyojo Ameh

In a recent development, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has refuted payment claims made by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr.

Betta Edu, citing irregularities in a private account transaction. Dr. Edu had previously stated that the payment was in line with civil service procedures.

Bawa Mokwa, Director (Press) of the OAGF, addressed this issue in a statement, clarifying the stance of the AGF, Dr.

Oluwatoyin Madein, regarding the operational protocols of the OAGF amidst media speculations.

Dr. Madein emphasized that the OAGF does not execute payments on behalf of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for project and program execution.

Instead, funds are disbursed to self-accounting MDAs in accordance with budgetary allocations, and these entities are solely accountable for executing and disbursing funds for their respective projects.

Regarding the specific payment request made by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Madein stressed that while the Ministry submitted a payment request, the OAGF did not process the transaction. Instead, the Ministry was duly advised on the proper procedures to follow in effecting such payments, ensuring compliance with established financial protocols.

Dr. Madein highlighted the standard payment procedure, emphasizing that disbursements should be processed by the respective Ministries as independent entities. She underscored the importance of routing payments directly to verified beneficiaries through authenticated bank accounts, cautioning against mass transfers to individual accounts purportedly linked to project finances.

In reaffirming the commitment to upholding transparency and accountability in public finance management, Dr. Madein urged MDAs to consistently adhere to necessary measures while conducting financial transactions.