Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) must embrace transparency, dedication and professionalism in the conduct of their official duties if the ongoing financial reforms of the present administration is to succeed, the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has said.
Dr. Madein also mandated the Federal Pay Officers to ensure that Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the States complied with the provisions of the Federal public financial management reform initiatives.
She spoke during a working visit to the Federal Pay Office in Benin, Edo State in continuation of her tour of Federal Pay Offices in the country to have a first-hand assessment of their operations and challenges.
As the representatives of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) in the States, Dr. Madein said the Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) should live up to their expectations by conducting their activities with utmost dedication and shun all acts capable of negatively impacting on the good image of the Federal Treasury.
She reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, adding that the Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) should monitor and ensure that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the States did not operate any account with the commercial banks or circumvent any provision of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
She insisted that due approval must be given by the President and communicated by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), based on stipulated rules and guidelines, before Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) can operate any account with commercial banks.
The AGF reiterated the need for the Federal Pay Officers to always maintain correct, presentable and acceptable records in line with approved standards.
“No matter how good you are, if your record doesn’t show this, it would be difficult to judge that you are efficient. Make sure that your records are correct at all times, that they are presentable and that they meet the required standards,” she advised.
She said officials from the Treasury headquarters would continue to visit the Federal Pay Offices to check their records to ensure compliance with laid down regulations and directives.
For efficient and effective performance of their duties, Dr. Madein said it was imperative for the Federal Pay Officers to be acquainted with the rules and regulations spelt out in the Financial Regulations, the Constitution, the Public Procurement Act and other documents relevant to the public finance management policies.
She disclosed that the Federal Government was undertaking the construction of Federal Pay Offices in some States in the country, in order to resolve permanently the accommodation and allied challenges facing many of the Federal Pay Offices.
Besides, she assured that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) would continue to give utmost priority to the welfare and well-being being of the staff in the Federal Pay Offices across the country.
