Manage Public Funds Prudently, AGF Tells Treasury Officers

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has urged treasury officers managing federal projects to exercise the highest level of prudence and integrity in handling public and donor-funded resources, stressing that the nation’s future depends on it.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 retreat of the Federal Projects Financial Management Department (FPFMD) in Abuja, the AGF described the responsibility of managing public finance as a critical national duty.

Represented by the director, finance and account department, Akuagwu Raphael Chuks, the AGF emphasised that the funds under their care are not only public but borrowed, and must be repaid—either by the current generation or the next.

“You must realise that you have been entrusted with not just public funds, but borrowed funds which must be repaid in time, either in ours or that of our children,” he said. “It is a privilege that you have been chosen among the many treasury officers in the country to safeguard the future of this great nation as the first gatekeepers of critical public funds.”

The AGF noted that the retreat is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public finance, especially in managing over 40 donor-funded federal projects across the country. He described the gathering as a strategic platform for reflection, collaboration, and learning new innovations in financial management.

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He said the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) remains committed to supporting the officers as they execute their project mandates, assuring them of government’s backing in their role as financial stewards.

“Let us be guided by a shared vision to strengthen the financial stewardship of our nation’s resources. We must not forget that this is an era of increasing complexity and scrutiny in public finance, making our role ever so important,” he stated.

The AGF encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and share insights that would improve their work. He also charged them to ensure that the projects they oversee deliver real value to the Nigerian people.

This call aligns with previous government initiatives to improve public financial management systems through reforms such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and increased oversight on donor-funded projects. These efforts are designed to curb leakages, promote transparency, and ensure that every naira spent contributes meaningfully to national development.

Earlier, the director, federal projects, Joshua Luka welcomed the participants to the retreat with a call for them to share knowledge, engage with the speakers and support the government in its drive to ensure effective funds management.

Declaring the retreat open, the AGF expressed optimism that the engagements and knowledge shared during the retreat would lead to better outcomes for project delivery and national progress.