Tinubu reappoints Ogunjimi as accountant general

Defeated 14 directors Issues around public Service Rule 120243   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as the new Accountant General of the Federation (AGF). The Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said this on Tuesday in a statement. According to the statement, Ogunjimi’s appointment, which was […]

• Defeated 14 directors

• Issues around public Service Rule 120243

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as the new Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).

The Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said this on Tuesday in a statement.

According to the statement, Ogunjimi’s appointment, which was approved on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, takes effect from March 7th, 2025, the same day the incumbent Oluwatoyin Madehin will retire.

Ogunjimi, 57, was first named as Madehin’s successor last December, amidst controversies.

“A selection committee chose him through a competitive, rigorous, and merit-based process involving Directors of Accounts in the Federal Civil Service. The committee conducted the process through three stages: a written assessment, an ICT proficiency test, and oral interviews.

“The selection process underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting transparency, excellence, and competence in key public service positions,” Onanuga said.

Ogunjimi graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1990, with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and also obtained a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lagos.

The incoming Accountant General of the Federation is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

President Tinubu congratulated Ogunjimi on his appointment and urged him to discharge his duties in the service of Nigeria with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to Nigeria’s service.

14 directors competed with Ogunjimi

Daily Trust reports that 15 directors, including Ogunjimi, in the federal civil service competed for the position and 10 of the 15 directors through the written examination in the race for the position of the AGF.

The position of AGF will become vacant upon the retirement of the incumbent, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein on 7th March 2025.

The 10 successful candidates later sat for the ICT proficiency test held on Thursday, February 13, 2025, a crucial stage that further assesses their ability to leverage technology in modern financial administration.

Controversy on vacant position

Our correspondent had also reported that President Tinubu, in December last year, in what appeared like a policy reversal, directed the outgoing Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, to continue in office till  March 7, 2025.

This followed the controversy that trailed the announcement of Mr Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as the president.

Daily Trust had reported that there was tension in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation(OAGF) Abuja, following the appointment of Mr Ogunjimi, as the new acting AGF by the President.

Activist kicks

Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, an activist from Kano State, had in a petition alleged that the presidency stopped a northerner from emerging as the AGF and illegally appointed Ogunjimi, from foreign affairs ministry.

Mohammed said that Mrs Madein was forced to go on retirement and that the government also bypassed two northerners who were by law next in line to take over in acting capacity if the AGF is not available.

She had said: “In what has remained very curious, the Presidency in collaboration with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, illegally appointed Ogunjimi Shamsedeen, a Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Acting Accountant General, after forcing Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, to go on retirement and bypassing two Northerners who were by law next in line to take over in acting capacity if the AGF is not available.

“A circular dated 3 September, 2024, had posted Shamsedeen, a director in the OAGF, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No circular had reposted him back to the OAGF and he is not the most senior to take over in the event the AGF is retiring or leaving. Danladi Comfort Zakowi, who is the current Director of Finance or Luka Joshua, Director of CAD Department, would have taken over in acting capacity. This didn’t happen.

“Another curious twist is that while Mrs Madein is only due to proceed on retirement leave in March 2025, Shamsedeen has already resumed and has been using policemen to prevent Mrs. Madein from entering the office, confirming insinuation that someone in the Presidency is pushing Shamsedeen to take over the OAGF.”

Reacting to the allegation then, the Director, Press, at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Bawa Mokwa, told Daily Trust that the controversy on the appointment was needless as any of the directors was qualified for stated executive positions and that it is at the discretion of the president to choice whoever he prefers.

 Confusion over application of Public Service Rule

Daily Trust findings revealed that the bone of contention is the application of Section 120243 of the Federal Government Public Service Rules.

According to some sources at the OAGF, Section120243 of the Public Service Rules, Madein ought to have left office from December 7, 2024 and proceeded on retirement leave.

Section 120243 of Public Service Rule states: “Officers are required to give three months’ notice to retire from service before the effective date of retirement.

“At the commencement of three months, officers should proceed immediately on the mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/seminar.”

Daily Trust further gathered that the office of the Head of Service advised the president to suspend the appointment of Ogunjimi because it was out of place to have a substantive and acting accountant general at the same time when the former was yet to complete the retirement process.

However, circular from the Head of Service, said that the appointment process was open to all serving Grade Level 17 officers in the mainstream Federal Civil Service who have held their current position for at least two years and have expressed interest in participating.

It added that candidates must meet several eligibility criteria, including screening and confirmation by their respective permanent secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure they are not under any disciplinary procedures.

The circular said that the list of eligible candidates will undergo verification screening by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries, under observation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure eligibility.

It added that the candidates will also undertake an asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

To further ensure the selection of individuals with impeccable ethical standing, candidates will undergo anti-corruption clearance by the DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the ICPC.

“The process will include a written examination conducted at a top Federal Government security agency.

“The setting of the examination questions and marking will be overseen by a body of serving and retired permanent secretaries, with observers from credible civil society organizations, the organised private sector, professional associations, DSS, and ICPC.

“In the subsequent phase of the selection process, candidates will be tested for ICT proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. ICPC and DSS will also observe this stage.

“The final appointment will rest with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who will consider the best-performing candidates based on their performance throughout the selection process,” the circular read in parts.