The National Youth Service Corps has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding, promoting, and protecting the core financial values and principles that will deepen accountability and transparency in the overall financial administration of the Scheme, stating that all hands must be on deck to safeguard the Scheme’s financial system from fraudulent activities.
NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim disclosed this today in Abuja while declaring open the GIFMIS/REMITA training for NYSC Account Officers themed; “Implementation and review of GIFMIS/REMITA payment procedure: Emerging Trends”.
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He said NYSC has made impressive strides in the use of the GIFMIS/REMITA payment platform since enrolling in 2011.
Ibrahim, who was represented at the event by the Director, ICT, Mrs. Christy Uba, equally said the Scheme is not oblivious of the challenges confronting the operation of the new technology-driven payment system.
“Issues such as identity theft, fraudulent and unauthorized intrusions into computers, hacking, phishing, and other forms of cybercrimes must be taken seriously”, he said.
The DG implored the participants to make the best use of the knowledge acquired from the workshop in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking further, Ibrahim called for vigilance from the Account Officers, adding that, recent happenings revealed that hackers could install several programs in a computer system without the owner’s awareness.
“Such programs could be used to steal sensitive information such as password and credit card details, as well as import files from your systems.
Since the NYSC financial systems rely wholly on GIFMIS/REMITA platforms, the weight and consequences of criminal infiltration of the system will be devastating for the Scheme.
Given the phenomenal rise and sophistication of cyber-criminality in our financial space, l wish to call for vigilance and caution by all NYSC officers dealing with GIFMIS/REMITA technology”, the DG said.
Major General Ibrahim added that as custodians of the Scheme’s treasury, the account officers must display at all times, the highest standard of professionalism, integrity, and transparency in the discharge of their duties.
He warned against releasing their log-in details and computers to subordinates to discharge functions on GIFMIS/REMITA platforms by proxy adding that, it is unethical and must be stopped forthwith.
“Any officer who violates this instruction shall be appropriately sanctioned”, he added.
The Acting Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Solomon Ishaku said the training was organized to guide the Account Officers on the various stages of using GIFMIS/REMITA operations.
He emphasized the need for them to be well-grounded in ICT operations to be professionally relevant in today’s dynamic world.
