Amidst the ongoing financial scandal involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, It has come to light the Accountant General of the Federation , Dr. Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein and her office has for more than six months refused to respond to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from BudgIT, on why the sum of N10 billion was paid into several personal accounts from government accounts in 2022.

BudgIT, a Nigerian civic society organization, in a Freedom of Information request dated June 6, 2023, signed by Ayomide Ladipo, the Head of Tracka, a subsection of BudgIT that focuses on tracking government projects across the country, had enquired from Dr. Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation that a survey on the 2022 Federal Government budget performance revealed that some payments totaling N10 billion were made into 18 personal accounts during the 2022 expenditure.

The non-governmental organization in its inquiry further stated that its findings came from close monitoring of government spending as posted on the government’s owned open contract portal, www.opentreasury.gov.ng. BudgIT, concerned about the implications of such financial activities for transparency and accountability in the management of taxpayers’ money and its appreciation, demanded an explanation from the Accountant General, claiming that such action violates the country’s financial regulations laws.

These findings by BudgIT show that the act of paying government money into personal accounts may not be a recent phenomenon contrary to the advertised response by the AGF to Dr. Betta Edu’s request to do same which was turned down by the AGF.

The FOI request reads:

“6th June, 2023.
Ref: TRK/FOI/FGExp/OAGF/001

Dr. Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein,

Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Plot 1570, Samuel Ladoke Akintola Boulevard. Garki 2 900103, Abuja, Nigeria.

Dear Ma,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST ON N10 BILLION PAYMENT MADE INTO PERSONAL ACCOUNTS IN THE 2022 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE

BudgIT is an indigenous civic organization established in 2011 and currently has a presence in 32 States of Nigeria. BudgIT’s vision is to see a community of active citizens that relentlessly make effective use of public information to demand accountability, geared for institutional improvement, efficient service delivery, and equitable society.

Tracka, a service delivery platform under BudgIT, has been supporting communities to track government projects across the country for the sole purpose of ensuring that these projects are delivered for the development of the community and improvement of the lives of the citizens.

Our recent survey on the 2022 Federal Government budget performance, which has caught the attention of the public, revealed that some payments totalling N10 billion were made into 18 personal accounts in the 2022 expenditure. This action is in violation of section 713 of the Public Sector Financial Regulation of 2009. This information, on the irregular payments, was culled from www.govspending via the FG’s open treasury portal – www.opentreasury.gov.ng

The Nigerian populace are curious as to why this occurred and would be grateful for an explanation on how this was possible. We urge your office to look into this illegality and ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

Please find the details of the projects, payment description and the respective beneficiaries of the payments on the attached sheet.

In the spirit of transparency and accountability, we would appreciate if a response is given within seven days as stipulated in the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

You can write or contact us via email at info@tracka.ng or phone at +2349083331633. You can also forward your response to: Box Office Hub, 1473 Albert Osakwe House, Central Business District, close to Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) Abuja. Nigeria.

While we anticipate your expeditious consideration of this request, please accept the assurances of our esteemed regards.

Yours sincerely
Ayomide Ladipo
Head, Tracka.”

However, despite the stipulation of Section 10 (1,2 and 3) of the Freedom of Information Acts, which mandates public authorities to respond to the FOI request within 20 working days following the date of receipt of the Freedom of Information Acts,” Ayomide Ladipo, the Head of Tracka told NDR that the accountant general is yet to respond to the request after six months of sending it.

She also shared the document, which explicitly stated the names and the account of the recipients of the public funds and descriptions of the payment. According to her, the document was also attached to the FOI request to AGF.

The document attached to the FOI BudgIT request sent to the AGF

She further expressed her frustration with the silence of the Accountant General of the Federation on such an important matter as far as public funds are concerned. She however, expressed optimism that the AGF would respond soon.