FG saves over N37bn from padding, AGF reveals

…Reaffirms commitment to continuous payment of promotion arrears

Mathew Dadiya and Joseph Inokotong, Abuja

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Ahmed Idris has disclosed that the Federal Government has saved over N37 billion from misapplications, padding, mistakes and non-compliance by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to the agreed template for the payment of promotion arrears.

This, Idris, said, followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that N10 billion be set aside monthly, commencing from May 2017 to offset backlog of Promotion Arrears, which the OAGF inaugurated an in-house committee to verify MDAs’ claims and submissions.

Mr Idris made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja when he played host to the National Executive of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.

According to the AGF, so far, the committee has paid out the sum of N42 billion, out of the N55 billion released leaving an outstanding of N13 billion in cash while a total of N35 billion is yet to be released to the office.

He reassured civil servants in the Country of the commitment of Office of the Accountant –General of the Federation, in line with Mr President’s directives, to the continued payment of promotion arrears owed Federal civil servants.

The accountant general promised that he would take the concerns of the Association to the Minister of Finance and would also dialogue with the Director General, Budget Office, to ensure that government continues to keep its part of the agreement reached with Association in order to ensure industrial harmony.

He commended the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants for their understanding and support in the implementation of government plans and programmes, saying without industrial harmony, no meaningful development can be achieved.

The AGF equally commended the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation’s arm of the Association for their understanding and support assuring them of his continued commitment to improving the welfare of the Staff through the implementation of people oriented programme.

Earlier, the National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria,( ASCSN), represented by the National Vice President, Comrade Bola Audu Innocent, extolled the leadership qualities of Mr Ahmed Idris, saying he had displayed professionalism in managing the Nation’s Treasury.

“We as a Union, that Unionizes Senior Staff in public service is proud of your achievements and contribution to nation building at this level” Comrade Bola Audu emphasized.

He, however, informed the AGF that their visit was necessitated by recent developments from the payment of outstanding promotion, salaries, and other arrears owed civil servants in the public service, where the association understood that concerns raised by DG Budget Office is leading to delay in the continued payment of the arrears.

Comrade Bola Audu explained that failure of the government to continue to honour the agreement signed in May 2017, may lead to industrial unrest.