By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A leading policy expert, Comfort Adaora Okafor, has warned that any attempt to weaken Nigeria’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) could undermine fiscal transparency and public revenue management.

Okafor, co-founder of Policy Shapers and board member of Policy Alert, said the TSA is a home-grown system designed to consolidate government funds previously scattered across thousands of accounts, improving accountability and cash management.

“The TSA is not a theoretical model. It is a functioning system that secures government resources, improves transparency, and strengthens fiscal discipline,” she stated, emphasizing that the reform reflects Nigeria’s capacity to design effective public finance solutions tailored to domestic realities.

She noted that while foreign-designed governance frameworks are often favoured, Nigeria’s TSA demonstrates that sophisticated fiscal coordination mechanisms can be implemented locally and have even attracted interest from other African countries seeking to modernize their revenue systems.

Okafor cautioned that the greatest threat to the TSA is not technical challenges, but inconsistent political commitment. She warned that retreating from cash centralization amid tightening revenues and rising debt would constitute a structural setback.

She urged policymakers, civil society, the media, and financial professionals to defend the TSA, describing it as a governance imperative. “For Nigeria, protecting the TSA is about protecting public resources. Every naira safeguarded strengthens the nation’s ability to fund infrastructure, deliver public services, and drive development priorities,” she said.