The Federal Government has issued a warning that it will no longer take responsibility for unpaid liabilities incurred by state governments. 

To address this, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, urged states to plug revenue leakages and enhance revenue generation.

“This will ensure that state governments receive their revenues as and when due, and the Federal Government will not be burdened by unpaid liabilities,” Madein stated.

She made these remarks during a working visit to the Federal Pay Office in Kano, as stated by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa. She emphasized the importance of financial discipline and directed Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) to ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) comply with the government’s financial management reforms.

“The use of manual processes in carrying out financial activities will soon be over. The use of modern technology in the accounting profession is key and vital,” she said, highlighting the Federal Government’s move toward digital transformation. She added that an enterprise concept management system is already being implemented to digitize financial activities, including those handled by FPOs.

Madein also encouraged FPOs to adopt the performance management system, which will replace the traditional Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER). “This system will involve all staff and serve as a tool for measuring management performance,” she explained, urging FPOs to be digitally ready and proficient in computer operations.

Speaking on behalf of the North-West Zone FPOs, Aminu Umar, Chairman of the Committee of FPOs, expressed gratitude for the AGF’s visit. “It will go a long way as a pace-setter for the incoming Accountant General after your leave,” he said.