The document outlines the financial responsibilities and roles of various public sector officers in Nigeria, including the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Accounting Officers, Sub-Accounting Officers, and Revenue Collectors. The Accountant-General is the chief accounting officer responsible for supervision of ministry accounts and preparation of financial statements. The Auditor-General audits public accounts and reports on whether accounts, expenditures, and records are properly managed. Accounting Officers oversee the day-to-day financial affairs of ministries. Sub-Accounting Officers and Revenue Collectors are responsible for receipt, custody and accounting of public funds.
The document outlines the financial responsibilities and roles of various public sector officers in Nigeria, including the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Accounting Officers, Sub-Accounting Officers, and Revenue Collectors. The Accountant-General is the chief accounting officer responsible for supervision of ministry accounts and preparation of financial statements. The Auditor-General audits public accounts and reports on whether accounts, expenditures, and records are properly managed. Accounting Officers oversee the day-to-day financial affairs of ministries. Sub-Accounting Officers and Revenue Collectors are responsible for receipt, custody and accounting of public funds.
The document outlines the financial responsibilities and roles of various public sector officers in Nigeria, including the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Accounting Officers, Sub-Accounting Officers, and Revenue Collectors. The Accountant-General is the chief accounting officer responsible for supervision of ministry accounts and preparation of financial statements. The Auditor-General audits public accounts and reports on whether accounts, expenditures, and records are properly managed. Accounting Officers oversee the day-to-day financial affairs of ministries. Sub-Accounting Officers and Revenue Collectors are responsible for receipt, custody and accounting of public funds.
The document outlines the financial responsibilities and roles of various public sector officers in Nigeria, including the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Accounting Officers, Sub-Accounting Officers, and Revenue Collectors. The Accountant-General is the chief accounting officer responsible for supervision of ministry accounts and preparation of financial statements. The Auditor-General audits public accounts and reports on whether accounts, expenditures, and records are properly managed. Accounting Officers oversee the day-to-day financial affairs of ministries. Sub-Accounting Officers and Revenue Collectors are responsible for receipt, custody and accounting of public funds.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC SECTOR OFFICERS
ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION (AGF)
AGF is the Chief Accounting Officer of the receipts and payments of the Federation, saddled with the responsibility of general supervision of the accounts of all Ministries and Extra- Ministerial Departments (MDAs), and the preparation of Annual Financial Statements of the Nation, as may be required by the Honourable Minister of Finance.
POWERS/DUTIES OF THE ACCOUNTANT- GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
According to the FR 108 (2009 edition) The accountant General has the following duties: (1) Power of access to books and records of all Ministries at any reasonable time. (2) Power to request for information and explanation necessary for his duties. (3) Power to carry out special/ad-hoc investigations in any Ministry.
FUNCTIONS OF THE ACCOUNTANT- GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
According to the FR 107 (2009 edition) The accountant General has the following functions:
(1) He serves as the Chief Accounting Officer for the receipts and payments of the government of the federation; (2) He supervises the accounts of federal MDAs (3) He prepares statutory financial statement of federal government. (4) He manages federal government Investments; (5) He maintains and operates the accounts of government (crf, federation a/c, contingency fund, development fund etc.) (6) He carries out revenue monitoring and accounting activities. (7) He establishes and supervises Federal pay offices in the state capitals of the federation. (8) He conducts routine and in-depth inspection of the books of accounts of federal ministries, Departments and agencies. (9) Investigate cases of fraud, loss of fund loss of assets and other financial malpractices. (10) Formulate Accounting policies and guidelines.
THE AUDITOR-GENERAL FOR THE FEDERATION (AuGF)
This is the officer responsible for the audit and reports on the public accounts of the Federation, including all persons and bodies established by law entrusted with the receipts, custody, issue, sale, Transfer or delivery of any stamps, securities, stores or other property of the Government of the Federation and for the certification of the annual accounts of the Nation. He is given free hand to examine the accounts in such a manner as he may deem fit. At the end of the audit, he is expected to write a report, stating whether in his opinion: (1) The accounts have been properly kept.
1|Page (2) All public funds have been fully accounted for, and the rules and procedures applied are sufficient to secure effective check on the assessment, collection and proper allocation of revenue. (3) Monies have been expended for the purposes for which they were appropriated and the expenditures have been made as authorized. (4) Essential records are maintained, and the rules and procedures applied are sufficient to safeguard public property and funds.
The appointment and removal of the Auditor-General for the Federation
The Auditor-General for the Federation appointed by Mr. President, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly; the appointment is based on the recommendation of the Federal Civil Service Commission; Once appointed, he/she cannot be removed from office, except where he/she can no longer perform the functions of the office due to ill-health, death, gross misconduct or where the terms of his/her office has expired (if he/she has served for 35 years or has attained the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier).
POWERS OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL FOR THE FEDERATION
(1) Power of access to books and records of all Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments, at reasonable times. (2) Power to request for information and explanations necessary for his duties. (3) Power to carry out special/ad-hoc investigations in any Ministry and Extra-Ministerial Department.
FUNCTIONS OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL FOR THE FEDERATION
❖ Financial Audit in accordance with extant laws in order to determine whether government accounts have been satisfactorily and faithfully kept. ❖ Appropriation Audit- to ensure that funds are expended as appropriated by the National Assembly. ❖ Financial Control Audit – to ensure that laid down procedures are being observed in tendering, contracts and storekeeping with a view to preventing waste, pilferage and extravagance. ❖ Value-for-Money (Performance) Audit – to ascertain the level of economy, efficiency and effectiveness derived from government projects and programmes.
The scope of work of the Auditor-General
1) Audit of the books, accounts and records of federal MDAs offices and other arms of government; 2) Audit of the accounts of federal government establishments located in all states of the federation including all Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; 3) Audit of the Accountant-General’s Annual Financial Statements; 4) Auditing and certifying the Federation Account; 5) Revenue audit of all government institutions. 6) Pre and Post auditing of the payment of pensions and gratuities of the retired military and civilian personnel;
2|Page ACCOUNTING OFFICERS Accounting Officers are the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries and Heads of Extra- Ministerial Departments. They are saddled with the responsibility of the day-to-day financial affairs of the Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments.
The functions of the Accounting Officer
(i) Maintenance of proper books of accounts. (ii) Establishment of functional system of internal control. (iii) Establishment of Internal Audit Department as an integral part of the internal control system. (iv) Ensuring that revenue is collected as at when due. (v) Ensuring that all money collected is properly accounted for. (vi) Supervising all officers entrusted with the receipts, custody and disbursement of public funds. (vii) Ensuring that there are adequate securities over the custody of Government Funds.
SUB-ACCOUNTING OFFICER In accordance with Government Regulations, this officer who is entrusted with the receipts, custody and disbursements of public funds, is required to maintain one of the recognized cash books, together with such other books that may be required by the Accountant-General.
Example includes Sub - Treasurer of the Federation, Federal Pay Officer (FPO), Police Pay Officer (PPO), Custom Area Pay Officer (CAPO), Director of Finance and Accounts(DFA), etc.
FUNCTIONS OF THE SUB-ACCOUNTING OFFICER
▪ Ensuring that the proper system of accounts as prescribed by the Accountant-General is established. ▪ Exercising supervision over the receipts of public revenue and ensuring prompt collection. ▪ Promptly bringing into account, under the proper heads and sub-heads of the estimates or other approved classifications, all receipts, whether revenue or otherwise. ▪ Ensuring that proper provision is made for safe keeping of public funds, securities, stamps, receipts, tickets, licences and other valuable documents. ▪ Exercising supervision over all officers under his authority who are entrusted with the receipts and expenditure of public funds. ▪ Supervising the expenditure of Government and ensuring that no payment is made without proper authorisation. ▪ Maintenance of cash book.
3|Page REVENUE COLLECTOR This is an officer, apart from a Sub-Accounting Officer, who keeps official receipts and collects specified forms of revenue on behalf of the Government. He is expected to keep a cash book. The Revenue Collector must not expend money out of his collection. He, therefore, has to account for the collections received intact.
FUNCTIONS OF THE REVENUE COLLECTOR
✓ Exercising supervision over the receipt of public revenue and ensuring their prompt lodgement into the banks. ✓ Promptly reflecting in the accounts, under the proper Heads and Subheads of the estimates. ✓ Seeing that proper provision is made for the custody of public funds and securities. ✓ Maintenance of efficient internal checks against the occurrence of malpractices. ✓ Checking all cash and stamps in his care; agreeing the amount with the balances in the Cash Book and Stamps Register. ✓ Making good any minor deficit which is not caused by theft or fraud and reporting accordingly.
