Urging for the separation of the offices of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and that of the federal government, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum emphasized the necessity for accountability assurance. During their monthly meeting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, the forum also highlighted the need for enhanced transparency in revenue allocation among the federal, state, and local governments.
Expressing their concerns over the lack of distinction between federal revenue and federation revenue, the governors, in a communique delivered by the forum chairman and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, called upon the federal government to adhere to the revenue-sharing principles outlined in Section 162 of the Constitution.
The governors criticized the actions of the Accountant-General of the Federation, accusing them of exhibiting bias towards the federal government and disregarding the constitutional guidelines. They stressed the importance of upholding transparency and complying with the law, urging the separation of the roles of the Accountant General of the Federation and that of the Accountant General of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The forum notes with concern, the refusal of the federal government to distinguish between the Federal Government of Nigeria’s revenue and revenue accruing to the federation which must be allocated in accordance with extant laws.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to be more transparent in obeying the law, particularly Section 162 (1) (2) (3). And equally, call on the Accountant General of the Federation to stop behaving like the Accountant General of the federal government and to exercise her role in line with the constitution.
“We call for the separation of the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and that of the Accountant General of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the PDP governors articulated.