The newly appointed Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, assumed office on Monday, setting the tone for his tenure with a call for unity and a firm stance on maintaining the independence of the Treasury.
Addressing staff at the Treasury House in Abuja, Ogunjimi stressed the enormity of the task ahead, calling for collective responsibility in ensuring the institution’s success. He vowed to dedicate himself fully to strengthening the Treasury’s standing.
“The task ahead is enormous. If I fail, every single one of you here has failed. I am ready to commit myself, my life, to the service of this institution,” he declared. “I am here to do everything possible to make sure the Treasury is at the head of all institutions in Nigeria.”
Ogunjimi urged staff to embrace teamwork, stressing that internal divisions would only hinder progress. “Please, I beg of you. Let us work together. A pass is a pass. Let us work, work,” he appealed.
He made it clear that his administration would not tolerate external interference, particularly from Chief Executives of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Reflecting on past experiences, he recalled attempts by some executives to influence personnel decisions, particularly regarding Directors of Finance and Administration.
“I’ve been a victim of a Chief Executive calling the Accountant-General to say, ‘I don’t like this Director of Finance and Admin, I don’t like this director. Please remove him.’ I’m not going to follow that path,” he said firmly.
He assured treasury officials that career-related matters would be handled with fairness, stating that directors posted to MDAs would be allowed to present their cases if issues arose. “If anybody comes to me, I’m going to call the director-in-charge. Tell your own story or whatever you know about it. Then we’ll now decide whether it’s worth it,” he stated.
Ogunjimi acknowledged concerns about workplace hostilities, admitting that an unsupportive environment could undermine officers’ effectiveness.
He assured staff that where necessary, alternative solutions would be explored to ensure their professional well-being.
“Sometimes, your career may also be at stake. If your chief executive doesn’t want you, then there’s no point staying there because he or she may frustrate your functions or your life. So, we will amicably look for a better solution that will make your life not miserable,” he assured.
He reaffirmed his commitment to an open-door policy, urging staff to reach out whenever they faced challenges. “If anything is bothering you in the discharge of your functions, I’m here. Talk to me. I’m your AGF. Feel free to come to me. I will listen to you. I’m a good listener. I will support you,” he assured.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he urged the staff to focus on rebuilding and improving the Treasury’s image rather than dwelling on past events. “Whatever has happened, has happened. We have to move on. I am not in any group. We are not going to polarise the house. The task ahead is enormous. We can’t be fighting ourselves. We must achieve,” he said.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunities he had received in the service, he pledged to uphold the integrity of the institution. “I may not have been who I am today if not for the opportunity provided to me by this service,” he noted.
He called on staff to take responsibility for enhancing the institution’s reputation, urging them to reflect on their roles in shaping public perception. “The past is the past. Let us work. Work, work. Begin to ask yourself, what will you do to change the perception of the Treasury? Every second of your work will impact the image of the Treasury,” he said.
Ogunjimi was appointed on March 7, 2025, succeeding Dr Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, who retired on the same day.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria and a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lagos. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, he has over 30 years of experience in financial management across the public and private sectors.
