FG halts unverified constituency project payments by MDAs

The Federal Government has ordered a halt to all payments for constituency and zonal intervention projects unless a Certificate of Verification and Compliance is obtained from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs. This directive, issued via a Federal Treasury Circular, targets Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and aims to enforce stricter oversight.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, signed the circular, emphasizing that Accounting Officers, Directors, and Heads of Finance and Accounts must ensure compliance. The move follows observed lapses in adherence to earlier guidelines for implementing constituency projects, which had undermined existing regulations.

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The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation wishes to further reiterate the provisions of the above-referenced Circular to ensure full compliance by all implementing MDAs, to strengthen accountability, transparency and effective delivery of Zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects and Programmes across the Federation.

The Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs is now the sole agency responsible for verifying and certifying these projects before implementation. This ensures that funds are used strictly for their appropriated purposes. Payment processing authorities are instructed to reject any request lacking the ministry's certificate, reinforcing accountability and transparency in project delivery across the federation.

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No payment is processed or uploaded on the payment platforms without a Certificate of Verification/Compliance issued by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs in relation to all payment requests on ZIP/CP projects.