40 Donor Funded Projects: FG Urges Accountants on transparency
Projects Accountants are charged to ensure transparency in handling the over 40 donor projects currently being executed in Nigeria.
Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday at a retreat for Project accountants and internal auditors organised by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to Ogunjimi who was represented by Director of Finance and Accounts Mr Akuagwu Raphael Chuks said the retreat was organized to interact and also learn of any new reforms/developments in the Nigeria Public Finance ecosystem and a testament to the commitment of the OAGF to enhancing the Financial Management of Federal Projects in the Federation.
“I am here to encourage you that the Government is solidly behind you as you execute your given mandate in contributing your quota towards achieving your various Projects Development Objectives (PDOs).
“You must realize that you have been entrusted with not just Public Funds, but Borrowed Funds which must be repaid in time, either in ours or that of our children. It is a privilege that you have been chosen among the many Treasury Officers in the country to safeguard the future of this great nation as the first gate keepers of critical Public funds as represented by the over forty (40) Donor Funded Projects,” the AGF explained.
He added that the retreat will address some critical aspects of Federal Projects Financial Management and explore innovative solutions and share best practices aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and efficiency in the financial management of Federal Projects.
The two days retreat witnessed presentations on Fraud Prevention and Detection in Federal Projects, The Role of Auditors in Projects and Preparation and Rendition of IPSAS Compliant Financial statement in Projects
Earlier, the Director Federal Projects in the Office of the OAGF, Mr Joshua Luka in his opening remarks said the work of Project Accountants are knowledge-driven which explains why retreats of this kind are very, very important.
He specifically commended the AGF for giving this kind of forum its right of place, giving it the importance that it deserves by granting us not only the approval to hold this event, but also participating actively in it as a show of support to all of us, to show us that it stands with us as we discharge our onerous responsibilities to our various projects.
He noted that the retreat will will add immense value to various projects and by implication to the nation, stressing that the objectives of the retreat will have been achieved and “we will go back better equipped to perform our duties to our projects and to our MDAs and to our nation”, he said.
