AGF threatens to withhold funds to MDAs

The Office of the Accountant-General of the  Federation (OAGF) has threatened to withhold funds to Ministries,  Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over non-submission of transcripts  of accounts and bank reconciliation statements for 2012.

A competent source in the OAGF, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  yesterday that the threat to withold the funds, followed  the expiration of the Jan. 15, 2013 deadline given to MDAs to  submit their bank statements.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that several  MDAs did not comply with the directive, issued by the OAGF in  December 2012.

According to the official, the late submission of the bank statements  will surely delay preparation and submission of the 2012 accounts  to the Auditor-General of the Federation.

'You will recall that the OAGF issued a circular on Dec. 27,  reminding MDAs to submit all outstanding transcripts of accounts  and bank reconciliation statements for year 2012 on or before  Jan. 15, 2013.

'As at today, Feb. 6, the response has not been encouraging and  the office will not cash-bank funds to any non-Treasury Single
Account (TSA) MDAs that has defaulted in the rendition.''

The official said MDAs on the TSA were exempted from the directive because their reconciliations were  being handled by the Settlement Centre in the Treasury.

NAN reports that the TSA is a centralised pay system, introduced  by the OAGF since January, 2012 and under the system, each MDA manages  the utilisation of its allocation while the OAGF is responsible for payment of the MDAs bills.

Meanwhile, Mrs Florence Dibiaezue-Eke, the Deputy Director, Press in the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation confirmed that the office had yet to receive the 2102 financial statement from the OAGF.

“I can confirm to you that we have not received the 2012  Accountant-General of the Federation's financial statement,''  Dibiaezue-Eke told NAN on telephone.

She cited relevant portions of the 1999 Constitution which authorises the Auditor-General of the Federation to  submit his report to the National Assembly 90 days after  receiving the OAGF's financial statement. (Leadership)