By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
Over 2,000 unaccredited workers have been uncovered within the State civil service following the digital verification exercise driven by the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy.
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who stated this, Tuesday, during a meeting with revenue officers and key stakeholders at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, highlighted the gains from the ongoing system reforms, saying with the reviewed system, the State currently deploys a digital platform that enables civil servants and political appointees to carry out self-verification and access payroll information through their mobile devices using their identity numbers.
Eno appreciated the commissioner for science and digital economy, Dr Frank Ekpenyong, for helping to drive the vision.
Expatiating on the Treasury Single Accounting system, the governor said the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the State will boost revenue growth and serve as a strategic tool to drive holistic development, while also enhancing transparency and strengthening accountability across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
In addition, he said the TSA will help shore up internally generated revenue, eliminate leakages and provide empirical data to support planning and other development initiatives.
Eno frowned at the practice where MDAs expend revenues they generate while still receiving monthly imprest from government, warning that henceforth any MDA that does that will be sanctioned.
“Our revenue collection drive and system has not been very effective. We have invested a lot of time reviewing our systems since coming into office, and these are the efforts people do not see compared to the physical structures.”
He explained that under the TSA regime, collection costs and operational funds will be processed through an automated system to ensure standardization and eliminate abuse, and directed the Accountant General to close all other existing government’s accounts.
The commissioner for finance, Mr. Emem Almond Bob, described the TSA initiative as a major public financial management reform under the present administration.
Bob commended the governor for clearing inherited commercial bank debts of N39.831 billion, paying almost N80 billion gratuity arrears, out of the inherited backlog of N111 billion since 2012, maintaining over 80 per cent budget performance, ensuring prompt payments of salaries, executing massive infrastructure projects and settling contractors’ obligations.
He said the engagement was designed to address stakeholders’ concerns and agree on modalities for the remittance of operational funds to revenue-generating MDAs and institutions.
The deputy speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Kufreabasi Edidem, applauded Eno for institutionalizing a sustainable digital revenue system that would endure beyond his tenure, noting that the TSA was long overdue and would curb financial irregularities while strengthening audit processes.
Speaking separately at the event, the chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Dr. Itorobong Etim, described the TSA as evidence of the governor’s commitment not only to his administration but to the long-term financial stability of the State.
Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the State, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, represented by the chairman of Ika Local Government council, Mr Utibe Nwoko, Esq, assured that local governments were ready to align fully with the new system.
The State accountant general, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien, expressed satisfaction with the innovation in financial management and assured stakeholders that anticipated bottlenecks had been resolved to guarantee a seamless transition.
High point of the event was a detailed presentation on the State’s remittance platform, (AkwaRemit) by the commissioner for science and digital economy, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, outlining operational guidelines and compliance expectations under the TSA framework.
Discussion about this post