By Aderogba George
The Civil Society Budget Implementation Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC) has urged the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to review its centralised payment system under the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.
The system is used for public finance management across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
It said the system is causing administrative bottlenecks in budget implementation.
The call was contained in a letter signed by Mr Splendour Agbonkpolor, Chairman of CBIAMEC, and submitted to the OAGF after a peaceful protest by members in Abuja on Monday.
He said the letter presented the group’s position on the centralised payment structure and its impact on budget execution across MDAs.
Agbonkpolor said CBIAMEC acknowledged the importance of financial oversight but expressed concern over delays under the current payment structure.
He said centralised payment finalisation has created bottlenecks that undermine efficiency and timely execution of government projects.
According to him, MDAs previously operated a decentralised system under the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, where Accounting Officers processed and finalised payments within existing controls.
He said the shift to centralisation has led to delayed payments, slower project execution, and cash flow constraints for contractors.
The CBIAMEC chairman said the development has increased project costs, disrupted timelines, and reduced efficiency in public service delivery.
He argued the system contradicts Financial Regulations and the Public Procurement Act, which assign expenditure responsibility to MDAs.
“Financial Regulations 3101, 3129 and 3130 place responsibility for payment authorisation on Accounting Officers within MDAs.
“Sections 16 and 20 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 mandate timely, transparent procurement management,” he said.
Agbonkpolor called for restoration of payment authority to MDAs under the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, with Treasury oversight and audit controls.
He urged clear timelines for payment approvals, stronger digital audit trails, and improved compliance monitoring to enhance transparency.
CBIAMEC also called for involvement of civil society, contractors, and procurement experts in the review process.
He said aligning financial authority with accountability would improve budget implementation and economic growth.
Agbonkpolor urged OAGF to give urgent attention to the matter in the national interest. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
