By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA- As part of measures to enhance accountability in Nigerian foreign missions, 36 accountants have been inducted as Financial Attachés and Treasury Ambassadors for posting to Nigerian embassies and Missions abroad.

Speaking at the opening of a five-day induction workshop for the newly appointed Treasury Ambassadors, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, who represented Amb. Peter Mann, Under Secretary, Admin and Finance, said the appointees were expected to adhere strictly to the provisions of extant rules and regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria

“You must ensure probity, transparency and accountability in the discharge of your duty as finance officers and due to the budgetary and financial constraints confronting the nation in recent times makes it imperative to apply prudence and due diligence in managing available resources,” the Permanent Secretary said.

He urged the newly inducted Treasury Ambassadors to be guided by Appropriation Act and mission’s index in the discharge of their duties,  adding that their ability to manage available resources prudently will determine the extent to which the mission achieved its mandate.

Director of Finance in the Ministry, Dr. S.I. Ocheni, said the training was to equip the officers with necessary skills to face the challenges of their new assignment, prepare them for financial and diplomatic challenges as well as enhance their effectiveness and efficiency in the discharge of their duties.

Urging the appointees of prompt remittance of all federal government revenues into relevant account and immediate forwarding of returns to the headquarters as required by law, Ocheni observed that some missions breached the constitutional provisions  and financial regulations with respect to procedures for collection and remittance of revenues.

He said: “In line with extant rules, you are required to submit your monthly returns to headquarters not later than 21 days after the month to which the returns relate.”

He also harped on the need for officers to promptly response to audit queries in order to save the ministry embarrassments, saying refusal to adhere to the warning would culminate in facing the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly.