Treasury Single Account and Financial Accountability in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria
Sr No:
Page No:
41-47
Language:
English
Authors:
Dr. ELEM, Chimele Tina*, Dr. ADUM, Ovunda Smith
Received:
2026-03-14
Accepted:
2026-04-16
Published Date:
2026-04-30
Abstract:
This study examined the effect of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) on financial
accountability in selected Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the South–
South region of Nigeria, with financial accountability proxied by budget execution efficiency.
The study adopted a descriptive and explanatory survey research design and relied on primary
data collected through structured questionnaires administered to finance-related staff of five
Federal MDAs. A total of 175 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and
multiple regression techniques. The results revealed that TSA implementation has a significant
positive effect on financial accountability in Nigerian MDAs. Specifically, TSA coverage
exerted the strongest influence on budget execution efficiency, indicating that wider integration
of MDAs into the TSA framework enhances adherence to approved budgets and strengthens
fiscal discipline. TSA compliance level was also found to significantly improve budget
execution efficiency, underscoring the importance of enforcement and institutional discipline in
achieving accountability outcomes. Furthermore, cash consolidation efficiency and revenue
remittance efficiency both exhibited positive and statistically significant effects on budget
execution efficiency, suggesting that efficient pooling of government cash resources and timely
remittance of revenues improve liquidity management and support effective budget
implementation. The regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power, confirming that
TSA-related variables jointly account for a substantial proportion of variations in budget
execution efficiency across the selected MDAs. The study concludes that the Treasury Single
Account is an effective public financial management reform for enhancing financial
accountability in Nigerian MDAs when fully implemented and complied with. It recommends
full TSA coverage, stricter enforcement of compliance, strengthened cash management systems,
and continuous capacity building for public finance officers to sustain accountability gains.
Keywords:
Treasury Single Account; Financial Accountability; Budget Execution Efficiency; Public Financial Management; MDAs in Nigeria