AGF Clarifies Role in Controversial Fund Transfer
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has clarified that her office does not directly facilitate payments for projects and programs carried out by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This statement follows recent reports regarding a request from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to transfer N585 million to a private account.
Dr. Madein emphasized that while her office received the request from the Ministry, it did not execute the payment. Instead, the Ministry was advised on the correct procedures for making such payments in accordance with established protocols. The AGF reiterated her commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in public finance management, urging MDAs to ensure compliance with financial transaction regulations.
The controversy surrounding the transfer of N585 million into a private account involves Betta Edu, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. Edu’s request to transfer the funds to a private account belonging to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as the project accountant for the Renewed Hope Grant for vulnerable groups, stirred controversy when the letter surfaced on social media.
In response, Edu defended the payment, stating that it followed due process and was intended for grants benefiting vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States. Her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, asserted that the grant was legitimate and followed all necessary procedures.
However, Dr. Madein’s statement clarified that her office did not execute the payment and reiterated the need for MDAs to handle financial transactions in accordance with established procedures. She emphasized the importance of direct transfers to beneficiaries’ verified bank accounts and warned against bulk payments to individual accounts under the guise of project-related transactions.
The AGF’s statement has prompted discussions on the proper handling of public funds and the need for transparency in financial transactions within government agencies.
Nairametrics
