TSA Will Check Ghost Workers, Financial Leakages – Gov Eno

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has assured that with the coming on stream of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the State, ghost workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and financial frauds would be eliminated.

Besides, the policy would boost revenue growth and serve as a strategic tool to drive holistic development, enhance transparency and strengthen accountability across civil service system.

Speaking during an engagement with revenue officers and key stakeholders at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, the Governor explained that “the TSA will help shore up internally generated revenue, eliminate leakages and provide empirical data to support planning and other development initiatives.”

Expressing dissatisfaction with the existing revenue collection framework, the Governor frowned at the practice where MDAs expend revenues they generate while still receiving monthly imprest from government.

“Our revenue collection drive and system has not been very effective. We have invested a lot of time reviewing our systems since coming into office, and these are the efforts people do not see compared to the physical structures.”

Highlighting gains from the ongoing system reforms, Governor Eno revealed that over 2,000 unaccredited workers had been uncovered within the State Civil Service through a digital verification exercise driven by the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, and appreciated the Commissioner for helping to drive the vision.

He noted that with the reviewed system, the state currently deploys a digital platform that enables civil servants and political appointees to carry out self-verification and access payroll information through their mobile devices using their identity numbers.

The governor explained that under the TSA regime, collection costs and operational funds will be processed through an automated system to ensure standardisation and eliminate abus

In his opening remarks, the commissioner for Finance, Emem Almond Bob, described the TSA initiative as a major public financial management reform under the present administration. He commended the governor for clearing inherited commercial bank debts of N39.831 billion, paying almost N80 billion in gratuity arrears, out of the inherited backlog of N111 billion since 2012, maintaining over 80 percent budget performance, ensuring prompt salary payments, executing massive infrastructure projects and settling contractors’ obligations.

He explained that the engagement was designed to address stakeholders’ concerns and agree on modalities for the remittance of operational funds to revenue-generating MDAs and institutions.

Also speaking, the deputy speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem, applauded the governor for institutionalising a sustainable digital revenue system that would endure beyond his tenure. He noted that the TSA was long overdue and would curb financial irregularities while strengthening audit processes.

In their separate remarks, Dr Itorobong Etim, chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, described the TSA as evidence of the Governor’s commitment not only to his administration but to the long-term financial stability of the State.

Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the State, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, represented by the chairman of Ika local government Area, Utibe Nwoko, assured that local governments were ready to align fully with the new system.

The State Accountant General, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien, expressed satisfaction with the innovation in financial management and assured stakeholders that anticipated bottlenecks had been resolved to guarantee a seamless transition.

The highpoint of the event was a detailed presentation on the State’s remittance platform, AkwaRemit, by the Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, outlining operational guidelines and compliance expectations under the TSA framework.