The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, has urged project coordinators across Nigeria to uphold transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of donor-funded projects, stressing that borrowed public funds must be deployed with utmost prudence to deliver value to Nigerians.
He gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja at the maiden Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) retreat for project coordinators, where over 50 donor-funded federal projects are under review.
Declaring the retreat open, the AGF said the meeting was conceived to provide a platform for project coordinators to interact, share experiences, and familiarise themselves with new reforms in Nigeria’s public financial management system.
“This retreat is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the financial management of federal projects. We have been entrusted with not just public funds, but borrowed public funds which must be repaid in time, either in our generation or that of our children,” Ogunjimi stated.
The retreat focused on critical aspects of the Federal Projects Financial Management Department (FPFMD) ‘s financial management oversight, including accountability frameworks, internal audit functions, and coordination with the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
A key highlight of the retreat is the unveiling of a proposed digital interface to unify and integrate accounting and reporting systems of all federal projects. Mr. Ogunjimi explained that the platform, which is designed to provide real-time online reporting to key stakeholders, will strengthen transparency and ease project monitoring.
He disclosed that discussions are ongoing with partners, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), to support its implementation.
A senior financial management specialist at the World Bank, Akram Elshorbagi, urged the national coordinators to carefully study the digital interface for a better implementation of the government’s social safety net programmes. He said the programmes won’t make the right impact if they are not properly executed.
The AGF also urged coordinators to recognise the importance of their roles in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic future through proper financial stewardship.
“You have been chosen among many Nigerians to manage borrowed funds as represented by over 50 donor-funded projects. It is therefore a privilege and a responsibility that must be carried out with integrity, sincerity of purpose, and strict adherence to global best practices,” he noted.
The national coordinator of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abdullahi Alhasan Immam, asked the government to design and implement poverty alleviation programmes to make sustainable impacts. He said the government’s conditional cash transfer project should be used to empower the poor and vulnerable Nigerians rather than being a cash gift programme that cannot lift the beneficiaries out of poverty. “It should be used to empower the beneficiaries,” he stated.
Also, the national coordinator of NG-CARES, Karim Obaje, expressed concern that despite the government’s interventions in poverty alleviation through various projects, including World Bank-sponsored ones, poverty and hunger were still on the rise in Nigeria. He said there is a need for introspection and assessment of the current strategies for better results.
The AGF who was represented by the Director in his office, Joshua Luka, encouraged participants to take advantage of the retreat to network and learn from one another, adding that their collaboration would be pivotal in achieving Project Development Objectives (PDOs) and driving national growth.
He further introduced the new Director of the FPFMD, who recently secured a “No Objection” from the World Bank. The director is expected to bring innovative and creative approaches to improving project financial management across the country.
Reiterating the OAGF’s commitment to reforms, he said the era of increased scrutiny in public finance makes it imperative for project coordinators to uphold prudence in managing resources and ensure that projects deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“Let us be guided by our shared vision of strengthening the financial stewardship of our nation’s resources for the benefit of the citizenry. Our Projects must not just meet donor expectations but must also deliver real impact on Nigerians,” he said.
The retreat is expected to produce a roadmap for improving project financial oversight, advancing reforms, and deepening collaboration between donor agencies, the federal government, and project coordinators in line with Nigeria’s development priorities.
