AGF says challenges of TSA will be addressed

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Alhaji Ahmed Idris, on Thursday said that the challenges of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) would soon be addressed to deepen its operations.

Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Director, TSA/E-collection, Mr Sylva Okolieaboh, said this at the Lunch Time Seminar organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja.

The theme of the seminar is ”Common Challenges in the Implementation of the Treasury Single Account in the Nigerian Public Service”.

He said that the benefits of the TSA could not be overemphasised as it had eliminated the risk of handling cash and also improved the revenue collection mechanism through e-collection.

He said the policy had also helped to save over 70 billion naira of Federal Government funds that were lost to failed banks as well delayed remittance of revenue collection.

He added that there were several challenges encountered since the commencement of the TSA which had been looked into.

”These challenges can be viewed from two angles – institutional and operational challenges.

“We have been working on many of these challenges and in no distant time we will resolve them.”

Idris said the issues of coordinating stakeholders had been a huge challenge which had slowed down the progress of the operations.

He added that other challenges ranged from non-enrolment of key arms of government, resistance based on limited understanding of TSA and conflicting directives and signals.

He said that the organisation was working with the National Assembly, ASUU, National Judicial Council and others who were yet to be in the process to comply with the Federal Government directive on TSA.

He also said that adequate awareness would be created to change management to reduce resistance of the TSA.

He added that an enabling act of all self-funding, revenue generating agencies would be amended to allow them get involved in the TSA operations.

Earlier, the Acting Director-General of the BPSR, Mr Dasuki Arabi, said the bureau had considered the policy to be apt in improving transparency and accountability of the present administration.

Arabi said the bureau, as part of its mandate, would continue to raise capacity in public service and as such the need for all MDAs to be involved in the reform.

He added that one of such reforms was the introduction of the TSA which he said had help the country to effectively save and utilise government funds.

“One of the key concerns of government has been how to tackle the menace of corruption in the country.

”The TSA is one of such policy to consolidate all revenues to facilitate cash management which has greatly saved the country a lot.”