The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has said that the recently launched Open Transparency Portal (OTP) by the Federal Government now makes it easy for members of the public to access information on financial transactions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Idris made this disclosure while addressing members of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, led by the Pro Chancellor/Chairman, Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali during their courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
He expatiated: “through the Open Treasury Portal, financial transactions by agencies can be seen clearly by whoever desires their pattern of expenditure, their funding and the authority behind a specific expenditure. Interested individuals, organisations and investigative agencies can now get on the Open Transparency Portal (OTP) and see for themselves all the information they need concerning patterns on expenditure”.
Recounting the successes recorded so far through the various financial management reforms of the government, the Accountant General pointed out that the OTP had further demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and efficient management of public finances.
Idris congratulated the chairman and members of the Governing Council of the institution on their appointment and expressed optimism that their presence on the Board will add value in no small measure to the development of the institution.
On the request by the Governing Council for partnership with the Treasury/Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the chief accounts officer of the federation expressed the readiness of the Office to partner with the institution’s Governing Council on relevant areas since such partnership would be of mutual benefit to both organisations.
To achieve this laudable goal, he said that officials of his Office would discuss with key personnel of the institution to map out strategies for effective partnership while also expressing the readiness of his Office to let the institution make use of the Treasury Academy, Orozo as its Abuja study centre.
In his remarks, the Pro Chancellor/Chairman of the institution, Ambassador Igali, said the Council would work hard to fulfil the government’s directive on transforming universities in the country into problem-solvers.
He commended the Accountant General for the successes recorded in the implementation of the various public finance initiatives of the government and expressed the wish of the Governing Council of the institution to closely work his Office to add value to its transparency, accountability and efficient management of public finances drive.
