The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Madein, has tasked Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) to imbibe transparency, hard work and professionalism in the conduct of their official assignments at all times.
Madein, who was quoted as giving the charge to the FPOs by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Office, Mr Bawa Mokwa, also mandated the officers to ensure that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at all tiers of government comply with the provisions of the public financial management reform initiatives of the Federal Government.
The AGF, during her working visit to the Federal Pay Office in Benin, Edo State in continuation of her tour of Federal Pay Offices in the country, explained that aim of the tour was to enable her have a first-hand assessment of the operations and challenges of the FPOs with a view to finding lasting solutions to them.
She noted that as the representatives of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), the Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) should live up to expectation, conduct their activities with utmost dedication and shun all acts that would impact negatively on the image of the Federal Treasury.
While reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, Madein urged the FPOs to monitor and ensure that MDAs in the states do not operate any account with the commercial banks or circumvent any provision of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
According to her, due approval must be given by the President and communicated by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), based on certain rules and guidelines, before MDAs can operate any account with commercial banks.
She reiterated the need for the affected to always maintain correct, presentable and acceptable records in line with approved standards.
Madein stressed: “No matter how good you are, if your record doesn’t show this, it would be difficult to adjudged that you are efficient. Make sure that your records are correct at all times, that they are presentable and that they meet the required standard.”
For efficient and effective performance of their duties, the AGF pointed out that it had become imperative for the FPOs to be acquainted with the rules and regulations spelled out in the Financial Regulations, the Constitution, the Public Procurement Act and other documents that are relevant to the public finance management policies.
She also hinted that the Federal Government was undertaking the construction of Federal Pay Offices in some states under a pilot phase in the government’s efforts to permanently address the accommodation and allied challenges facing many of the FPOs.
