By Maureen Ugwukah
Anambra State Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to hand over all their accounts to the existing Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) as the sole signatories to the Accounts and desist from maintaining independent Revenue bank Account with any deposit Money bank (DMBs) within and outside Anambra State.
Though in exception according to the release are those Accounts maintained by the Office of the Accountant-General of the State.
This was contained in a Circular dated May 4, 2026 signed and made public by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Izuchukwu Okafor.
The Circular has it that in line with the constitutional responsibilities of Ministry of Finance to coordinate and implement Fiscal policies of the State government, and the ongoing restructuring and overhaul of policy and procedures of the State’s Revenue Service following directives are hereby issued with approval of Mr. Governor effective immediately.
“All Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) are hereby banned from maintaining independent Revenue bank Account with any deposit Money banks (DMBs) within and outside Anambra State.
“Consequently, all existing Accounts are to be handed over to Anambra State Revenue Service (AIRS) as sole signatories to the Accounts except for those Accounts maintained by the Office of Accountant-General of the State.
“List of Accounts handed over to AIRS must be submitted to the Office of State Commissioner in charge of Finance within the next five working days.
“All previous and existing Consultancies/Contracts relating to revenue collection in Anambra State are hereby cancelled with immediate effect. Going forward, Mr. Governor must approve every revenue consultancy or contract in writing.
“All revenue rates (fiscal rate) charged for any revenue head must be the one approved by government. All arbitrary rates are by this circular criminalized.”
The Circular however warned that Breaching of any of the stipulations as stated in the government’s directives as hereby shown would be treated as a fraud case with full weight of the law and legal consequences.
“Any commercial bank within or outside the State that opens/operate/maintains revenue account for any MDA in Anambra State in breach of this circular will be deemed to have conspired to defraud Anambra State Government.
“Therefore, all banks and deposit receiving institutions are by this circular requested to submit list of all revenue Accounts bearing signatories other than Signatories of Accountant-General of Anambra State to the Office of Commissioner incharge of Finance within the next five (5) working days.”
It directed that Heads of MDAs and Permanent Secretaries/Senior Officers would be held accountable and responsible for strict compliance with above directives and with material consequences if breached.
Maureen is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
