Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), emphasized the crucial role of effective resource management in administering public funds. His remarks were made during the opening of a one-day sensitization workshop on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) policy and guidelines. The workshop, held at NASENI’s headquarters in Abuja on May 14, 2024, was organized in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).
The workshop aimed to enhance financial management practices among NASENI’s principal officers, directors, managing directors, and accounting officers. Mr. Halilu urged participants to approach the workshop with a strong sense of purpose, highlighting the importance of accurate financial record-keeping and the adoption of innovative processes integral to the GIFMIS policy. He stressed that continuous staff training and capacity development are essential for ensuring NASENI’s efficiency and making it a preferred public sector employer in Nigeria.
Emphasizing the importance of confidentiality in financial management, Mr. Halilu cautioned staff against mishandling classified documents and called for strict adherence to public service regulations to maintain the integrity of official information. He reiterated NASENI’s commitment to its core operating principles of Collaboration, Creation, and Commercialization (the 3Cs initiative) and expressed confidence in the Agency’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr. Jeremiah Asanato, Deputy Programme Manager of the System Support and Sustainability Directorate at the OAGF, provided an overview of GIFMIS. He explained that the system aims to integrate budgeting and government expenditure, addressing irregularities, corruption, and fraudulent activities in government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
In his vote of thanks, NASENI’s Coordinating Director of Finance and Accounts, Alh. Ibrahim Baba Dauda, expressed gratitude to all attendees from NASENI centers system-wide. He encouraged the Finance and Accounts Directorate staff to consider ways to transform NASENI into an independent revenue-generating agency.
The workshop underscores NASENI’s dedication to effective financial management and its ongoing efforts to uphold transparency, accountability, and innovation within the agency.