BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF
The new Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Jonah Otunla has promised to run a zero-corruption -based treasury in pursuit of the Transformational Change policy of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking at the takeover ceremony at the Treasury House in Abuja, yesterday, the AGF assured that the federal treasury would be administered in a transparent and accountable manner in the interest of the Nigerian public.

His words, “dear colleagues, I am sure you are aware that we have a very big task ahead of us in view of the declaration of Mr. President to effect a transformational change in service delivery through the instrumentality of public servants.

“This mission further demands the dedication of the entire civil service, especially the civil servants to embrace principles of transparency, accountability, due process and intolerance to corruption in the implementation of government policies and programmes.

It therefore behoves us as officers of the Accountant-General that we show the way forward in this new moving train, being captained by Mr. President.  I stand before all you to pledge that I shall work hard to make the OAGF a centre of excellence, which will be customer- friendly, service -oriented and completely devoid of corruption in the transformational change policy.

Earlier, the out-going AGF, Mr. Adebiyi Ogusanya noted that the observance of financial regulation, public service rules and other emerging regulations coupled with a profound teamwork spirit engendered  by a dedicated and loyal work force in the OAGF helped in the achievement so far recorded by the Treasury House.

He expressed satisfaction at the “amiable and collaborative disposition of all staff and the commendable roles of the accountants on posting to outstations across the country”.

The former AGF asked those on such postings to remain good ambassadors of the OAGF, especially in the pursuit of the current administrations policy of promoting transformational change, service-wide.

In his own remarks, former AGF, Mr. Kayode Naiyeju, emphasized the need for the new AGF to ensure competence and integrity as his watch words in the administration of the federal treasury.

“If you don’t know your subject matter, there will be temptation for you to sacrifice your integrity.  If you are greedy, you may lose your integrity because we are given the mandate to be in charge of money.