According to the portal, a total of N19.4 million was paid into President Tinubu's account in two separate transactions.
A recent review by SaharaReporters of the public payments portal, GovSpend, revealed some interesting information regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the portal, a total of N19.4 million was paid into President Tinubu's account in two separate transactions.
The first payment of N6.4 million was made in April 2024, followed by another payment of N13 million on July 26, 2024, tagged as "salary office of the secretary" from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
It's worth noting that GovSpend is a platform that provides access to government spending data, aiming to promote transparency and accountability. The platform aggregates data from multiple sources, giving buyers and sellers valuable insights into government procurement.
However, the report raises concerns about the legitimacy of these payments, suggesting that they may be in violation of the law.
Chapter 7, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 states: “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.”
Lawyer Festus Ogun pointed out a serious irregularity in Nigeria's financial system, highlighting that it's improper for someone else's salary to be paid into the President's account.
Ogun's observation underscores the need for stricter controls and oversight to prevent such misallocations.
“The President is not meant to receive salary of any of his aides into his account. Salary cannot be received by proxy; it should be paid directly into the aide’s account,” he stated when told that the description of the payment reads “salary office of secretary”.
“The development is not something that should be encouraged,” he added.
Odeh Friday, Executive Director of Accountability Lab, also raised concerns about the financial transparency and procedures surrounding fund disbursements within the presidency.
Specifically, Friday questioned the authorization of payments and whether proper documentation is in place.
“We all receive monies such as salaries but when payments are made into the President’s personal account in this manner, we need to question the procedures and put a check on the balancing procedures available within the system,” he told SaharaReporters.
“Some persons may be abusing the lack of process to fund the President’s personal account,” he added.
Concerns are mounting over accountability in the country, with many citizens demanding greater transparency in how the nation's limited resources are managed.
Essentially, people want to know that their government is working efficiently, effectively, and honestly. This call for accountability is crucial, as it promotes citizens' trust in their government and legitimacy of the public sector.