From Promises to Practice: Reviewing Sumayah Maruf's Financial Commitments
The Treasurer of the Agronomy Club, University of Ibadan, Sumayah Maruf, has outlined the measures taken to implement the financial commitments contained in her "Financial Fertilizer Agenda", focusing on transparency, payment efficiency and financial security.
Under the "Open Book" Policy, she promised to maintain an up-to-date ledger and work with the Financial Secretary to ensure that the financial position of the club remained clear to the Executive Council.
She said she maintained a physical ledger, kept financial records synchronised and presented consolidated financial updates to the Executive Council.
"I maintained an up-to-date ledger, kept our records synchronized and presented regular, consolidated financial updates to the Executive Council," she said.
She added that payments received, including dues and other contributions, were recorded in her ledger and cross-checked against bank deposits and the Financial Secretary's records to identify discrepancies and ensure that amounts collected matched those deposited and recorded.
The "Quick Response" System included a 24-hour turnaround target for approved payments. She said the process involved working with the Financial Secretary after presidential approval to verify the relevant budget line and available income before disbursement.
"Once the President approves a payment, the Financial Secretary and I work closely to ensure that all details are accurate. The Financial Secretary verifies the relevant budget line and income, while I handle the disbursement and secure the physical receipt," she said.
She said the process enabled payments to be handled promptly while retaining the required approval and documentation procedures.
Financial security was another major component of the agenda. Under the "Guardian of the Vault" commitment, she pledged to safeguard the club's passbook and cheque book and serve as a check against withdrawals as a co-signatory.
She said the passbook and cheque book were kept in a secure location, with access restricted to authorised transactions involving the required co-signatories. She also said she personally handled cheque transactions and passbook updates to minimise unauthorised handling and maintain accurate records.
On withdrawals, she said requested amounts were cross-checked against the ledger and the Financial Secretary's records before approval to confirm that expenses fell within approved budgets. She added that the bank mandate's dual-authorisation requirement provided an additional safeguard against unauthorised withdrawals.
The ₦2,500 constitutional imprest limit was also addressed in the manifesto. She said expenses exceeding the limit were not treated as routine imprest withdrawals but were instead handled through a formal requisition.
"An expense above ₦2,500 is not treated as a routine imprest withdrawal. Instead, a formal requisition is prepared, stating the purpose and urgency of the expense, and submitted to the President for authorization," she said.
She added that in rare, time-sensitive situations where a bank withdrawal could not be made immediately, executive members could temporarily cover the expense while maintaining proper accountability and documentation.
In addition to the commitments contained in the manifesto, AGYPRESS observed that she shared financial tips with Agronomy students during the first semester as part of a series focused on financial awareness.
She also said that reducing cash-based spending, minimising unnecessary delays and ensuring that every naira was accounted for had helped provide funds for event logistics and student packages.
With the tenure nearing its end, the review provides an account of the measures taken towards the financial commitments outlined in the manifesto.
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