The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has refuted reports claiming that her office honored a request to pay N585 million into a private account as directed by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
The AGF clarified that while her office received the minister’s request, it did not carry out the payment. The statement emphasized that the AGF’s office advised the ministry on the appropriate steps to follow, ensuring compliance with established payment procedures.
According to the AGF, payments in such situations are typically processed by the affected ministries as self-accounting entities. The AGF stressed that no bulk payment should be made to an individual’s account in the name of the Project Accountant. Instead, payments should be directed to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
Dr. Madein reiterated her commitment to upholding principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances. She urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to adhere to the necessary steps in conducting financial transactions.
The clarification comes in response to a document that circulated on social media, indicating a directive from the minister to disburse funds into a private account for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos States. The media assistant to the minister had previously stated that such payments into private accounts were legal within the civil service, specifically for project accountants.
The AGF’s statement aims to dispel any misconceptions regarding the alleged payment into a private account and reinforces the importance of transparent financial practices within government entities.
