Nigeria’s Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, has walked back comments that were interpreted as a six-month deadline directed at the World Bank regarding the timing of loan disbursements. The clarification came after concerns were raised about the tone and implications of the earlier remarks.
In a statement released over the weekend by Bawa Mokwa, spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ogunjimi said his comments were intended to promote prompt review and handling of “no-objection” requests. These approvals are typically required before certain administrative steps can proceed for World Bank-backed activities.
The Accountant General further explained that the funding Nigeria is seeking through the World Bank is structured as loans rather than grants. As a result, he said Nigeria needs efficient processing to keep the associated projects on track, including delivery within agreed schedules and within relevant fiscal planning cycles.
Ogunjimi said the earlier message was not meant as a threat or an ultimatum. Instead, he emphasized the need for better cooperation and shared understanding, along with timely and favorable consideration of no-objection requests submitted to the World Bank by the Office of the Accountant General. He noted that these requests relate to the secondment or deployment of project accountants, assistant project accountants, and project internal auditors drawn from the Treasury for federal government projects financed by the World Bank that run for more than six months before project closure.
The statement added that the Office of the Accountant General remains committed to sustaining a constructive working relationship with the World Bank and other development partners. It said the objective is to advance transparency, strengthen accountability, and improve public financial management across Nigeria.
