The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has refuted claims of approving the alleged N585.198 million payment request made by Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betty Edu.
Edu’s request, documented in a letter dated December 20, 2023, sought payment to the personal account of Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, citing grants for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos States.
However, the AGF clarified that her office did not authorize the payment, emphasizing that it is not within her purview to handle project payments for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
In an official statement by the Director of Press, Mr. Bawa Mokwa of the OAGF, the AGF affirmed that self-accounting MDAs are responsible for project implementation and payments. While the Ministry’s request was acknowledged, the AGF provided guidance on adhering to established payment procedures.
The AGF underscored that payments should be processed by the concerned Ministries as self-accounting entities, highlighting the impropriety of bulk payments to individual accounts under the guise of a Project Accountant.
Stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in public financial management, Dr. Madein urged MDAs to adhere to proper financial transaction protocols.
