Civil Societies in Nigeria have condemned holding of a workshop in the United Kingdom by the Accountant General of the Federation, at a time when the country is grappling economic challenges, News About Nigeria reports.
A human rights group, the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, (ISSJHR), described the travel embarked upon by the Office of the AGF as needless and a waste of the country’s financial resources.
The Chancellor of the group, Jackson Omenazu, who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday, stated that the decision to move about 36 members of the implementation committee of the agency who are also commissioners of finance for the 36 states to London showed how insensitive the public servants were to the economic plight of the country.
Recall that the Office of the AGF reportedly held a workshop on Public Financial Management and International Public Sector Accounting Standards in London, UK.
The workshop, titled “Public Financial Management and IPSAS,” brought together state commissioners of finance and officials from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
However, reacting to the London trip, Omenazu noted that the journey was absolutely unnecessary and wasteful, adding that it is cheaper to bring the facilitators to Nigeria to train the participants, considering the high exchange rate.
He therefore stated that the accountant general and the approving agency that approved the trip need to be cautioned.
“This is the height of financial recklessness and insensitivity to the economic situation of Nigeria today. If it is a workshop as they have claimed, the accountant general can go for the workshop and come back to replicate the knowledge here to the other commissioners,” he said.
“The journey is absolutely unnecessary for him to travel with the 36 commoners of finance. Looking at the cost of the travel and the economic situation Nigeria has found itself in today, there is no prudence in such a decision. We need public servants who will key into the situation of this country and salvage the country.”
