New template for civil service expenditure underway

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, says the government was developing a new template that would compel accounts officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to disclose details of their expenses to auditors.

The minister, who disclosed this at the cost management workshop for senior government officials in Abuja on yesterday, said that the new template was part of efforts by the government to block leakages Adeosun, noted that with the lean resources at the government’s disposal, it was important to control recurrent expenditure, especially overhead cost saying it was building a systems to ensure that people are held accountable.

She said: “SOE’s are a key risk area and we have draft audit report for a sample of them. Funds are leaking through a loose framework. AGF sending a new template for allowable expenses and disclosures that must be made in audited accounts as well as external audit selection processes.”

The minister, who also doubles as chairman of Efficiency Unit steering committee added that insisted that the days when 99% cost-to-income ratio were the norm are over saying those expected to generate operating surplus must do so.”

Established in 2015, the Efficiency Unit is one of the reform programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure effective management of Nigeria’s finances in order to achieve a more appropriate balance between Capital and Re-current Expenditure, Value for Money and eliminate wastages in government.

The Minister said that the Unit was part of government’s strategies for resetting the economy by cutting down on recurrent expenditure and plowing the amount saved into capital projects and other investments that will revive the economy, create jobs and reduce costs of living for Nigerians.

“Essential to releasing this headroom for capital investment is the control of recurrent expenditure,” she said.

She, therefore, warned accounting officers of MDAs to always ask questions before they sign any document.

According to her, don’t just sign”, ask questions. Yes is an answer, no is an answer. When it comes to public money…why is an answer? Convince me is also an answer.

“Treat public money as if it were your own money, squeeze the toothpaste, small losses and wastes add up, she said.

In her brief remarks, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, disclosed that her office is developing an Enterprise Culture and commercial for the Service.

According to her, the aim is to transform the Civil Service from being perceived as a cost centre to revenue earner.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation said that the process will “enhance value for money in government expenditures, eliminate leakages and wastages in the public financial procurement system, ensure less dependence of MDAs on subventions/appropriation from government, and ensure that the civil service and MDAs become idea generation powerhouses thus complementing the private sector in creating business opportunities.

(National Mirror)