N585m Saga: Payment into Individual Account Illegal – AGF Disowns Betta Edu
The controversy surrounding the attempt by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, to send public funds into a private account reached a new height on Saturday afternoon as the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has said the whole process was faulty and not in line with proper payment procedure.
In a reaction that looks like throwing the Minister under a moving bus, the AGF confirmed receiving the memo and found it curious that the Minister attempted to send such bulk money into a private account in the name of a Project Accountant.
The AGF confirmed receiving a request from the Minister for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in some States of the Federation.
Economic Confidential reports that a memo had gone viral on social media where the Minister was seen requesting the AGF to pay the sum of 585 million naira into a private account for the purpose of executing a poverty alleviation programme in three states.
While Minister has confirmed issuing the memo and justified the attempt to send public funds into a private account, the AGF has rejected the request and sought to educate the Minister on how to carry out government transactions in a transparent manner.
A statement issued on Saturday afternoon by the Director of Press in the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, clarified that the office does not make payments on behalf of MDAs for projects and programmes implemented by the MDAs.
He 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 explained that although her Office received the said request from the Ministry, it did not carry out the payment. The Ministry was however advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.
The AGF 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 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.
