By Ken Afor
Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), has revealed that Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, acted out of desperation by depositing government funds into a private account, disregarding the given advice.
It would be recalled that the minister had requested the Office of the AGF to transfer the sum of N585 million to the personal account of an individual named Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
Betty Edu’s payment request was outlined in a letter with the reference FMHAPA/HQ/S.208, dated December 20, 2023.
She clarified that the funds were intended for grants targeting vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos States.
Meanwhile, in response to media reports suggesting that the Office of the AGF was involved in the transfer of funds meant for the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) into a private account by the Minister, the Office of the AGF issued a statement clarifying its role.
According to the Director of Press, Bawa Mokwa, the AGF does not make payments on behalf of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for projects and programmes implemented by them.
The AGF has emphasized that funds are released to self-accounting MDAs, including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, in accordance with the budget.
These MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and the payments associated with them.
Meanwhile, the AGF disclosed that a request was received from the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, however, despite being advised on the necessary actions to take, they disregarded the advice and proceeded to make a payment to a private account, disregarding financial protocols.
The AGF emphasized that in similar circumstances, payments are typically handled by the respective Ministries as self-accounting entities, and it is not appropriate to make a lump sum payment to an individual’s account under the guise of a Project Accountant.
Dr. Madein emphasized her commitment to maintaining accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds.
She recommended that MDAs consistently follow the necessary procedures when conducting financial transactions.
