CSO harps on accountability, integrity, transparency in recruiting Accountant General of the Federation
Civil society group under the auspices of Civil Society for Good Governance ((CSGGG) has urged the Head of Civil Service to emphasize on accountability, integrity and transparency in the recruitment of Accountant General of the Federation over nominal examinations
This is contained in a release signed by the CSGGG President, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic and made available to morenews.ng
The release read in full:
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (CSGGG) TO ADDRESS THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION (AGF) DATED 11TH AUGUST, 2022
Gentlemen of the Press, I bring you greetings in the spirit of solidarity and nation building.
This press conference is a sequel to an earlier one a fortnight ago. It is imperative that this briefing is put in proper context as a corollary to underscore the civil society’s interest in the unfolding drama surrounding the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).
Before proceeding, it is pertinent to set the records straight from the very beginning that we have written to President Buhari Muhammadu and all relevant stakeholders in and out of government, stating that the civil society’s position on this matter unequivocally and without mincing words.
Let me start by commending the Head of Service and the supervising minister; the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, for ensuring that all candidates shortlisted for the position of Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), are meticulously screened by the relevant authorities – the likes of Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Moreover, as Civil Society Organization, our position is that the rigorous screening process must be merit-based, focusing on credentials, past and present work experience, competence, capacity and character viz-a-viz the principles of Accountability, Integrity and Transparency (AIT). At the end, five (5) out of the most qualified candidates should emerge, one out of which can then be appointed as Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).
The crux of the matter is that we want the screening process to de-emphasize the obsolete use of examination as the major determinant for recruiting the Accountant General of the Federation, given the pivotal and influential functions of the office on our national economy. After all, it is now visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that examination is not the true test of knowledge – a cursory look at some public stewards in offices today lends credence to this fact.
The process of selecting Permanent Secretaries buttresses our point. Recall that Bauchi, Cross River and Taraba States – three out of the six states which sat for the last Permanent Secretaries Examination – still do not have a Permanent Secretary representing them today and as such are being short-changed of their democratic dividends, all because the candidates representing these three states were not favorably disposed during the examination process conducted for potential Permanent Secretaries.
The above scenario is a graphic illustration of how this Examination-Centered System disenfranchises and deprives Nigerians of their rights of participation in the democratic process, further underscoring the fact that examination should not be the litmus test for career preparedness. On the contrary, ability and capacity to deliver on the job should be the yardstick for selecting public stewards and as such, personality and leadership qualities must factor as highly as skill and competence as demonstrated by work experience and track record or career trajectory, in recruitment processes into public service.
In any case, applying the same ineffective recruitment process of appointing Permanent Secretaries in the recruitment and appointment into the sacred office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), can be counterproductive for our country as it robs the nation of valuable human resources, by focusing on process rather than products and by so doing, appointing the highest bidders and schemers instead of the best fit for the job. Therefore, the need for capacity and competence this time around to ensure that the best hand emerges from this particular screening exercise so as to quickly get Nigeria out of the monetary woods, cannot be overemphasized.
Recall that in our previous press briefing on this issue, the CSOs referenced the fact that, whereas a Permanent Secretary (PS) can be transferred from one MDA to another – if such a PS is found to be incompetent at the previous MDA – the same cannot be said of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), who cannot be so readily transferred once appointed into the office. That shows just how sensitive this office is to the survival of Nigeria as a nation.
Let it be on record that, the position of the CSOs is premised on a trending allegation that the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), who is currently standing trial for corruption, embezzlement and looting of the Federation’s treasury to the tune of N109 billion did pay handsomely during his screening examination, thereby procuring the position of AGF like some commodity at a trade fair which was auctioned to the highest bidder. Is it therefore any wonder that the man spent his days in office frantically recouping his “investments” and repaying his “investors” who facilitated his fraudulent emergence as AGF through the corrupt screening examination?
Ladies and Gentlemen, our country today is in a state of complete financial disaster and only a Nigerian with a proven track record in revenue generation, expertise in financial management, alongside a vast experience in people management, can rescue us from total implosion.
The next Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) must be someone who can diplomatically facilitate a healthy synergy with the three arms of government, catalyze a robust and cost-effective inter-agency cooperation in order to lower the cost of governance and must be able to work harmoniously and seamlessly with his or her principal – the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning – for the smooth implementation of government financial implementation framework 2022 – 2025, vis-a-vis the monetary and fiscal policy of government.
Furthermore, the preferred candidate must be able to account for all international funds accruable to the country, inclusive of Aids, Credits, Grants and Loans from international agencies.
Currently our treasury is in tatters with the conundrum emanating from the IPPIS and UTAS dichotomy, alongside allegations of massive fraud in GIFMIS and TSA, giving voice to diverse agitations, paramount among which is the perennial face-off between the federal government and university lecturers.
Therefore, the next Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), must be dynamic and versatile in both private and public sector financial managements and must be diplomatic and skilful in interpersonal relationships, to enable him or her to proactively navigate and outmanoeuvre the entrenched bureaucracy which is plaguing our public service system, in order to deliver the goods of the office to Nigerians.
Finally, it is our considered opinion in the Civil Society that the office of the AGF is so critical to the rescue mission of Nigeria that, public interest trumps personal interest at this watershed moment, when the nation stands precariously at a precipice of serious security crises and consequently our economy is in tatters with the Naira on a freefall against the dollar, leaving Nigerians at a crossroads with increasing inflation in the face of decreasing revenue generation, amidst multiple taxation and dwindling hope!
Certainly, the work of the next Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) is cut out for him or her, as he or she must hit-the-ground-running with strategies to save Nigeria from impending doom, therefore the process of selecting that all-important champion, must be seen to be transparent and focused on rebuilding Nigeria.
On this note, we leave the recruiters with this food for thought by Margaret Chase Smith, “public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.”
Think about this while you go about your job of recruiting the next Accountant General of the Federation!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Comrade Ogakwu Dominic
President, CSGGG
