Nigeria Accountant General: Who is the Accountant General of The Federation?

The treasury of Nigeria is govern by the Accountant General of the Federation. Also, he is to have an oversight of the finances of all ministries and departments inside the federation in his capacity as Chief Accounting Officer of Revenue and Payment. According to Nigeria's constitution, Civil Services Reorganization Decree No. 43, in 1988 the office came into existence. A proper accounting system must be in place in each department of the country's treasury. The accountant general of Nigeria is in charge of managing the country's receipts and payments. He or she is also responsible for exercising general supervision over the federal government's spending and public revenue receipts.

Who is the Accountant General of The Federation?

The Federal government's accounting and Treasury departments are led by the Accountant General of the Federation. The AGF is in charge of ensuring that the ministries, extraministerial offices, and other branches of the government have sufficient accounting and controls. He also creates the annual financial statements of account for the country as needed by the Ministry of Finance. Himself or his agent can get any necessary information for the right discharge of his duties. He or his representative shall have access to all documents and other records about the accounts of any Ministry or department at any reasonable time.

Ahmed Idris is the current Accountant General of Nigeria.

What is The Accountant General's Authority

• The authority to have reasonable access to all Ministries' books and records at any time?
• The authority to ask for information and justifications that are required for his job.
• The ability to conduct special investigations in any Ministry.

With these powers, the AGF will be able to create a statement of account for the federation that accurately reflects the status of affairs in the country.

The Responsibilities of the AG of the Federation

The following are the responsibilities of the Federal Accountant General:

• He oversees the federation's receipts and payments as the Chief Accounting Officer.
• Oversees the financial operations of federal ministries, extra-ministerial offices, and other governmental entities.
• Compiles, presents, and publishes the Federal Government's statutory financial statements as well as any other account statements that the Minister of Finance may demand.
• Oversees investments for the federal government

Other responsibilities of the accountant general

• Provides financial support for the federal government's activities, maintains and runs the accounts of the consolidated revenue fund, development fund, contingencies fund, and other public funds.
• Upkeep and management of the Federation account.
• Creates and manages Federal Pay Offices in each of the Federation's state capitals.
• Performs frequent and thorough examinations of the financial records of federal ministries and departments to verify adherence to laws, rules, policies, and judgments as well as the upkeep of accounting standards and internal auditing guidelines.
• Approves and ensures adherence to audit, store, and accounting code manuals.
• Investigates allegations of financial misconduct in government departments, extra-ministerial offices, and other departments and agencies.
• To make sure that there are sufficient systems in the government offices for the influence of the gathering and disbursement of public funds. The synchronization of the accounting systems, the Treasury issues treasury circulars and offers economic regulatory requirements to federal ministries and ministerial departments.

Who is Ahmed Idris

Nigerian financial accountant and current accountant General of Nigeria Ahmed Idris was born on November 25, 1960. On June 25, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari nominated him as the new accountant general. To replace Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, who stopped working for allegedly stealing N2.5 billion from the security agencies. After President Muhammadu Buhari regained the seat for a second term in 2019. Ahmed Idris became the accountant general again. He worked as an executive in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel before he became the AGF. He belongs to the Nigerian Association of National Accountants (ANAN).

Why EFCC arrests Accountant General of the Federation

·        Nigeria Accountant General Fraud of N80 billion

Ahmed Idris was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on May 16, 2022, in Kano. For refusing to comply with a request to explain how his office spent a total of 80 billion naira. On fraudulent and spurious contracts given to associates, colleagues, and family members. Idris allegedly used real estate assets in Kano and Abuja to launder the money. According to a news statement from the EFCC. Ahmed Idris was placed on indefinite administrative leave after being arrested by the government to allow for a thorough investigation.

·        Purchasing properties while in office

Idris purchased many properties for billions of naira while acting as Accountant-General. Without being able to prove where the money came from. During his tenure in power, Idris purchased Gezawa Commodity Market Limited and Gezawa Integrated Farms Limited. Both of which had Idris family members on their boards and as significant stockholders. Idris also paid 500 million for the Sokoto Hotel in Kano. Which he then had razed and a mall constructed instead. Idris was questioned about the source of the funds used to purchase the houses by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and media representatives.

·        106 billion missing from MDAs

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), after finding more than 106 billion unaccounted from the finances of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in 2018, petitioned Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to look into Idris in April 2021. After analyzing the 2018 Office of the Auditor General for the Federation report, SERAP discovered the missing funds. Malami was subsequently asked to question Idris and Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning Zainab Ahmed. Regarding their alleged failure to ensure strict compliance with pertinent laws, rules, and regulatory requirements across all MDAs despite the Auditor-warning General and recommendations.

·        False claim to House committee

 Ahmed Idris made a false statement on the return of £4.2 million. A recovered funds that were stolen by former Delta Governor James Ibori to the Delta State government on May 25, 2021. When he spoke under oath before the House ad hoc committee on recovered loot. Idris declared: "It was given to Delta State. Any recovery resulting from money that has been stolen from a certain state goes to that state. Even the state governors won't let it fly. They'll file a lawsuit against the federal government. We give them their payment.

Buhari's media assistant, Lauretta Onochie, said that the funds were not sent to Delta State. This is because a transfer to the state government was not covered by the repatriation arrangement with the UK. Idris changed his mind and declared. "For the time being, no money has been to Delta state. The problem of the £4.2 million Ibori plunder has not fixed. Idris' falsehood may have been punishable by law. Lying under oath to a House committee is an offence.

·        Court Charges levied against Ahmed Idris

Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited got an accusation alongside Mr. Ahmed Idris.
We accused them of 14 theft-related offenses and criminal breach of trust, totaling N109, 485,572,691.9. After his detention in Kano on the fraud charge, the federal government suspended Mr. Idris from his position as the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Who is the current accountant general of the country

The acting Accountant General of the Federation has been named by the Federal Government as Mr. Anamekwe Nwabuoku. The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning's Permanent Secretary Aliyu Ahmed signed a letter announcing Nwabuoku's appointment on May 20, 2022. Bashir Ahmad, a former advisor to President Muhammadu Buhari, announced Nwabuoku's appointment on Twitter.

“In anticipation of the conclusion of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation into the suspended AGF, Ahmad Idris. Mr. Anamekwe Chukwunyere Nwabuoku has is to lead the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

Nwabuoku is perform his duties in strict adherence to the laws currently in effect and with the utmost professionalism. Ahmed Idris' suspension, who is under investigation for carting away N80 billion, following his appointment. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning has declined to comment on the events that led to Mr. Chukwuyere Anamekwe's abrupt removal as Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF). Mr. Okolieaboh Sylva's covert appointment as a replacement.

When approached by phone by SA Media for comment on the matter. Mr. Yunusa Abdulahi, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning. Suggested that the Nigerian Tribune contact the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF). The Director of Information, Press, and Public Relations for the OAGF, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike. This newspaper tried to reach him, but he did not return a phone or a message.

Reports about the current accountant general of Nigeria

According to reports, the federal government has discreetly appointed Mr. Sylva as Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF). Mr. Anamekwe, who served as Director of Treasury Single Account until two weeks ago (TSA). According to different sources. Mr. Anamekwe's contract came off because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been keeping an eye on him due to a hidden offense for some time.

His remarks that the Federal Government was borrowing to pay employee salaries. This situation has put the government in a bad position, which has linked to his secret departure. Mr. Sylva will retire in the first quarter of 2023. It seems improbable that he will succeed as the Federation's actual Accountant General. As dated on May 22, 2022, Mr. Anamekwe became the acting AGF. As at June 14, 2022, he made a contentious remark about the government borrowing money to pay salaries. On June 21, 2022, his contract became obsolete.

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