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AGF Madein Canvasses For Entrenching Transparency, Accountability In All Governance Aspects

Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, Accountant General of the Federation, emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in governance at the 2024 NACOFED event. She urged comprehensive oversight beyond finances, including human resources and assets. Madein advocated for fiscal discipline, savings, and capacity building to enhance management of public resources and ensure accountability.

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2024

Optimum Times

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Jafiya; the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein and some Commissioners of Finance during the 2024 NACOFED in Bauchi State.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has canvassed for transparency and accountability to be entrenched at all tiers and aspects of governance in the country.

The Accountant General of the Federation spoke at the 2024 National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) held in Bauchi State.

According to her, transparency and accountability should not be solely about finances or financial mangers; other resources, including human resources, have to be accounted for.

“Transparency doesn’t end with finances, it goes round to even the store keeper and those that manage the kitchen. Infrastructure has to be accounted for, everything that can be used indiscriminately, must be properly accounted for in a transparent manner”, she said.

Dr Madein said, “If we only build structures around how finances can be controlled, and leave the other areas without much control mechanism, then we are just doing haphazard job. We need to build serious control measures around our assets”, according to a statement by Bawa Mokwa, Director (Press and Public Relations), office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

She noted that it has become imperative for persons in positions of authority to adequately account for assets that are procured through public funds.

“When funds are released for the purpose of increasing assets of the government, those assets must be accounted for by those that are handling them”, she said.

The AGF emphasised the need for continuous capacity building and motivation of the work force, noting that this was of utmost importance in ensuring transparency and accountability in managing public assets.

On fiscal discipline, Dr Madein advised governments at all levels to adopt appropriate control measures and imbibe the culture of savings and viable investments to guarantee availability of financial and other resources during the rainny day.

“Savings is good and savings at the time of plenty is advisable. Governments at all levels should save from whatever comes to them so that they can have what to fall back to in any adverse situation”, she said.