Two weeks after the formal introduction of the Treasury Single Accounting
(TSA) system in Sokoto, the state government said it has uncovered the sum
of N1.5b lying idle in 100 redundant accounts belonging to it in various
commercial banks in the country.
The state commissioner of finance, Alhaji Umar Saidu, who stated this in
Sokoto Sunday while giving an update on the system’s implementation, said
government is determined to trace and close down all dormant and inactive
accounts operated by it.
He said since the introduction of the TSA, there has been a massive
improvement in the reconciliation of public finance figures between the
government and commercial banks. This, according to him, has reduced risk
of errors in reconciliation processes and has enhanced timeliness and
quality of the fiscal figures from such accounts.
The commissioner said the introduction of the TSA has now enabled
government to regularly monitor public cash balances while at the same
time ensuring higher quality cash analysis from all accounts hitherto
operated by the state government and its agencies.
He added that more analysis are being undertaken efficiently and at
regular intervals.
He said the full benefit of the new accounting system would be felt when
the implementation of the 2016 budget starts. The document is currently
undergoing legislative action with state House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, Sokoto Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sunday approved the
posting and redeployment of new permanent secretaries and
directors-general in the state civil service.
A statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, showed that 23
Permanent Secretaries were redeployed while 11 DGs have been sent to
various departments and agencies in the state.