In response to recent reports on a controversial N585 million payment request by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, clarified that her office does not directly handle payments for projects and programs carried out by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The AGF emphasized that although her office received the request from the Ministry, it did not execute the payment. Instead, the Ministry was advised on the proper procedures aligned with established payment protocols.
According to Bawa Mokwa, the Director (Press) of the Office of the AGF, the AGF highlighted that the concerned Ministries typically process payments in such cases as self-accounting entities. No bulk payment should be directed to an individual’s account under the guise of a Project Accountant. The AGF stressed that such payments should be routed to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
In a statement from the AGF’s office, Dr. Madein reiterated her commitment to upholding accountability and transparency in public finance management. She urged MDAs to consistently follow prescribed financial transaction protocols, ensuring that every step is duly adhered to in handling public funds.
Unpacking the Controversy
The controversy centers around transferring N585 million of public funds into a private account, involving Betta Edu, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
The issue gained momentum when a letter requesting the fund transfer surfaced on social media. According to reports, Edu sought to transfer N585 million to a private account belonging to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as the project accountant for the Renewed Hope Grant for vulnerable groups.
Edu defended her actions, confirming that she requested the Accountant-General to transfer public funds to a private account. She asserted that the payment adhered to due process and was intended to implement grants for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States.
Rasheed Zubair, Edu’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, emphasized that the grant followed due process. Oniyelu Bridget was legally the Project Accountant for the grant from the Department of Finance. Edu dismissed misconduct allegations as baseless, describing them as a sponsored attempt to tarnish her reputation.
Dr. Madein, in her statement from Abuja, acknowledged receiving Edu’s request but clarified that the AGF’s office did not execute the payment. She reiterated the importance of adhering to established payment procedures, advocating for direct transfers to beneficiaries’ verified bank accounts.
In the face of this controversy, the AGF’s office and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs remain at odds over the handling of public funds, with both sides presenting their perspectives on the matter.
