Photo: Sunday Aghaeze
BY TheCable
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the Federal Government to ensure experience and qualification in the appointment of a new accountant-general of the federation (AGF).
Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition on Thursday in Abuja, president, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), Ogakwu Dominic Ogakwu, said the group was worried about the discordant issues arising from the vacant office of the AGF.
He noted the need for merit and transparency in the appointment of the new accountant-general of the federation.
“As a Civil Society Organisation, 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,” he said.
“The crux of the matter is that we want the screening process to de-emphasise 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 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.
“Let it be on record that the position of the CSOs are premised on a trending allegation that the former Accountant-General of the Federation, 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 the 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 the 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 must be someone who can diplomatically facilitate a healthy synergy with the three arms of government, catalyse 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.
“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 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”.
The federal government had suspended the former AGF, Ahmed Idris, over an alleged N109 billion fraud.
The AGF, Chukwunyere Anaekwe, who was chosen to replace Idris was also suspended.
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