6th January, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr Oluwatoyin Madein has faulted payment of N585 million grants to vulnerable groups, GVG to an account of an individual by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
Madein said this while reacting to controversies over a leaked memo from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Accountant-General of the Federation approving payment of N585,189,500.00 Renewed Hope GVG for four states to one Oniyelu Bridget.
Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair (ANIPR) Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Betta Edu had in a statement on Friday defended the payment of the funds to the account of Oniyelu Bridget who he described as the ‘project accountant for the GVG’
“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is Legal in civil service for a staff, the Project accountant to be paid and use same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after the project or Program is completed,” Zubair said in the statement.
However, the OAGF faulted the bulk payment of the GVG fund into an account of an individual in the name of the project account.
Madein said such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
The AGF also insisted that it does not make payments on behalf of MDAs for projects and programmes implemented by the MDAs as insinuated in the memo.
In a statement issued Bawa Mokwa, OAGF Director of Press on her behalf, the AGF explained that although her Office received the said request from the Ministry, it did not carry out the payment.
“She however said she advised the Ministry on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.
“The AGF noted that in such situations, payments are usually processed by the affected Ministries as self-accounting entities and no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the Project Accountant.
Madein said such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
“Dr. Madein reiterated her determination to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.
“She advised MDAs to always ensure that the requisite steps are taken in carrying out financial transactions,”