President Muhammadu Buhari has given his approval for the appointment of Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein as the substantive Accountant-General of the Federation.
This decision, announced on Friday, May 19, 2023, by the Director of Communication, Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed, follows a “successful conduct of a selection process” to fill the existing vacancy.
Ahmed further disclosed that the appointment is effective from Thursday, May 18, 2023, signifying the immediate assumption of duties by the newly appointed Accountant-General.
Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having served as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation since January 2020 until her appointment.
Prior to that, she held the position of Deputy Director (Internal Audit) at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, overseeing the internal audit department of the Housing Sector.
Her career in financial management also includes notable positions at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the Ministry of Police Affairs, and the National Poverty Eradication Programme.
Her extensive career in financial management includes serving as Deputy Director at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, where she specialized in internal auditing and risk management.
Madein has also held key positions at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the Ministry of Police Affairs, and the National Poverty Eradication Programme.
It would be recalled that the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris was suspended and arrested by the Nigerian government on allegations of money laundering and diversion of public funds.
Following Ahmed Idris’s suspension, Anamekwe Chukwunyere Nwabuoku was appointed on May 23rd 2022 to oversee the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in acting capacity.
However, by July 4, 2022, Nwabuoku was replaced with Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis, a former Treasury Single Account (TSA) Director, due to ongoing investigations by the EFCC.
Madein’s appointment, therefore, comes at a crucial time when Nigeria aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in its financial operations and the expectations are high as she assumes this critical position.