The Sokoto state government says it has uncovered N1.5 billion ‘lying idle in 100 redundant accounts belonging to it in various commercial banks in the country’.

According to the state governor’s spokesperson, Malam Imam Imam, the discovery came up two weeks after the formal introduction of the Treasury Single Accounting (TSA) system in Sokoto.

The state commissioner of finance, Alhaji Umar Saidu, was quoted to have revealed this on Sunday while giving an update on the system’s implementation.

He said government is determined to trace and close down all dormant and inactive accounts operated by it.

“He said since the introduction of the TSA, there has been a massive improvement in the reconciliation of public finance figures between the government and commercial banks. This, according to him, has reduced risk of errors in reconciliation processes and has enhanced timeliness and quality of the fiscal figures from such accounts.”

“The commissioner said the introduction of the TSA has now enabled government to regularly monitor public cash balances while at the same time ensuring higher quality cash analysis from all accounts hitherto operated by the state government and its agencies.

He added that more analysis are being undertaken efficiently and at regular intervals.”

“He said the full benefit of the new accounting system would be felt when the implementation of the 2016 budget starts. The document is currently undergoing legislative action with state House of Assembly.”