OAGF Urges Stakeholders to Verify Information before making Public Statements.
By Yahaya Zakka Minna.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has called on all stakeholders, particularly media organizations, to verify and confirm facts before making public statements that could mislead the public or harm the reputation of government institutions.
According to Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations, this appeal follows a recent broadcast by Brekete Family, a program aired on FM radio station 101.1 in Abuja, concerning alleged salary deductions involving employees of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in Gwagwalada. The OAGF wishes to set the record straight on this matter.
A total of eighty-five (85) UATH employees filed a lawsuit at the FCT Area Court in Bwari, alleging fraudulent salary deductions by Hi-Breed Consults Services, Baxxmort Construction Company, and twenty (20) Microfinance Banks (MFBs).
Following a court order issued in favor of the affected staff, a meeting was held between the then Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, and the Brekete Family team.
During this meeting, an agreement was reached to suspend all further deductions from the affected employees’ salaries starting from February 2025, pending the resolution of the substantive case.
In compliance with this agreement, the OAGF directed all implicated MFBs to halt deductions immediately.
However, two MFBs, Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) and REGENT Microfinance Bank, inadvertently continued deductions in August 2025.
Upon discovering this error, both institutions were promptly instructed to refund the deducted amounts. LAPO has completed all refunds, while REGENT Microfinance Bank is currently in the process of making the necessary repayments.
In response to the Brekete Family broadcast aired on September 15, 2025, which inaccurately alleged non-compliance by the OAGF, Mr. Akowe Job, the representative of the affected UATH staff, issued an apology, stating that the radio station had not been fully briefed on the measures already undertaken by the OAGF prior to the broadcast.
Additionally, it was observed that five (5) staff members were overpaid during the refund process by LAPO. The representative of the affected employees has been advised to work with LAPO to ensure that the excess funds are returned appropriately.
The OAGF remains actively engaged with Mr. Akowe Job, the representative of the UATH staff, who is collaborating closely with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) Department to resolve all outstanding salary-related issues for August 2025.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is committed to transparency, accountability, and efficient service delivery. We urge all stakeholders, especially media organizations, to seek clarification and verify facts before making public statements.
