The Federal Government has made it clear that it will no longer be responsible for unpaid liabilities created by state governments. This means states must handle their financial commitments without expecting help from the federal level.

Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), gave this warning during a visit to the Federal Pay Office in Kano. She urged state governments to improve revenue collection and close financial loopholes.

According to her, this will help ensure that states get their revenues on time without adding financial pressure on the Federal Government.

She also stressed the need for financial discipline. She directed Federal Pay Officers (FPOs) to ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) follow financial reforms.

Dr. Madein highlighted the Federal Government’s plan to stop manual financial processes and fully embrace digital systems. She explained that an enterprise management system is already being introduced to handle financial activities more efficiently.

She also encouraged FPOs to adopt a performance management system instead of the traditional Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER). This new system will involve all staff and help in tracking management performance more effectively.

During the visit, Aminu Umar, Chairman of the Committee of FPOs in the North-West Zone, thanked Dr. Madein for her leadership. He noted that her visit would set a good example for future Accountant Generals.

With these changes, the Federal Government is taking firm steps to improve financial accountability and digital transformation in public finance. State governments must now take responsibility for their financial obligations without relying on federal assistance.