….No bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the Project Accountant.
From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein on Saturday distanced her office from the N585 million that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation said was paid into the private account of the Project Officer meant for recipients in Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Lagos and Ogun States in December, 2023.
She clarified that the OAGF does not make payments on behalf of MDAs for projects and programmes implemented by the MDAs.
The AGF was reacting to media reports concerning a request from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as captured in a request letter , below, for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in some States of the Federation.
She stated that allocations are released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget and such MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.
The AGF in a statement issued on Saturday, through the Director of Press, Bawa Mokwa, explained that although her Office received the said request from the Ministry, it did not carry out the payment.
She however advised the Ministry on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.
Reacting to reports , Minister Edu said in a statement that the transfer Of N585m into Private Account is legal and was approved.
According to her letter, ” the payment should be made from the National Social Investment office account with account number 0020208461037 to the project’s accountant’ details listed above as Onyelu Bridget, UBA account.”
The AGF however noted that in such situations, payments are usually processed by the affected Ministries as self-accounting entities and no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the Project Accountant.
She added that such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
Dr Madein reiterated her determination to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.
She advised MDAs to always ensure that the requisite steps are taken in carrying out financial transactions.
Moreover, Edu is incorrect to say the payment was legal because a standing statute faults it.
According to Chapter 7 of the Federal Government Financial Regulations Act, section, 713, titled personal private money to be kept separate, the law states that, ” personal money shall in no circumstances be paid onto a government bank account nor shall any public money be paid into a personal bank account. Any officer who pays public money into a personal account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intentions.’
