OAGF Directors, Deputies Petition Okolieaboh, Ahmed over Alleged Posting Irregularities

Say due process breached, AGF usurped role of director of administration

Some aggrieved directors and deputy directors in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) have petitioned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed over alleged irregularities in their recent posting by the acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Sylva Okolieaboh.

The protest came against the backdrop of a memo dated May 8, 2023, and signed by Okolieaboh communicating the posting of 12 directors from the treasury house to other ministries and parastatals.

The memo titled, “Posting of Directors and Deputy Director of Finance and Accounts SGL 17/16 Under the Pool of Office of the Accountant General of the Federation,” was addressed to the Permanent Secretaries in the ministries of Education, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Niger Delta Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Police Affairs, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Police, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, North East Development Commission, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, and the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Police Trust Fund.

According to the memo, obtained by THISDAY, the postings which took immediate effect, affected 10 directors and two deputy directors who were assigned responsibilities in other ministries.

Okolieaboh said, “All officers are reminded that failure to comply with this posting instruction shall be treated in accordance with the provision of Public Service Rule (PSR).

“Accordingly, affected officers are advised to submit Assumption of Duty Certificate to the undersigned on or before May 22, 2023.”

However, the aggrieved officers in a petition to the AGF and the Minister of Finance, dated May 17, 2023, faulted the postings and accused Okolieaboh of scandal in “posting of directors of accounts and deputy directors of his office to some ministries and MDAs.”