Early Life

Dr. Abalaka was born on the 13th February, 1966 to the family of Pa Daniel Achor Abalaka of Ikoh Clan and Mrs. Iyoma Ocheje-Achor Abalaka of Aju Ukwenya Dynasty, (both of blessed memory) in Odu land, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Education

The young James completed his elementary education at the LGEA Primary School, Olubojo in Dekina LGA in 1979 and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Dekina in 1980 where he sat for the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in 1985. In 1985, he proceeded to the University of Jos, Plateau State where he bagged his first degree, a B.Sc. in Business Management in 1989.  He also holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance & Investment from ABU Zaria; an M.Sc. and a doctorate degree (PhD) in Management from the Kogi State University, Anyigba. In addition, he holds a Professional Diploma in Education. He is presently a doctoral student at the Federal University Lokoja where he is carrying out a research work on an Appraisal of Public Financial Management Reforms in Public Expenditure in Nigeria’s Treasury from 2011-2023.

 

Civil Service/Employment History

He joined the Federal Civil Service as a Finance Officer II in the early 90s with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and rose through the Professional Accountant cadre in his blossoming career spanning over three (3) decades.

 

The Summary of Career Journey (from the most recent) is given below:

i.          Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation: (8th August, 2016 to Date)

o   Director (Funds), December, 2024 –Date

o   Director (Fiscal Accounts and Cash Management, Funds Department, 1/1/2024-December, 2024)

o   Deputy Director (Fiscal Accounts Division, Funds Department, 1/1/2019-1/1/2024

o   Assistant Director (Fiscal and Cash Management Section), Sept, 2016-1/1/2019

    ii.          State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja: August, 2012 – 8th August, 2016

o   Assistant Director (Accounts) and Head, Internal Audit

  iii.          Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps: (May, 2010 – July, 2012)

iv.          Assistant Director (Accounts), Pioneer Implementer of the TSA for the Corps and Head, Final and Consolidated Accounts Branch: January, 2011 –5th July, 2012

o   Chief Accountant and Head of Final Accounts and Accounting Transactions, Recording & Reporting Systems (ATRRS), May, 2011 – January, 2011)

    v.          The Nigerian Institute of Animal Science: Jan 2009-May, 2011)

o   Chief Accountant and Head of Finance & Accounts (Jan 2009-May, 2011)
vi.          Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development: (Feb 2004-Jan. 2009)

o   Chief Accountant and Head of Special Duties and Personal Assistant to various Directors of Finance and Accounts (1/1/2008 –                      2009)
o   Assistant Chief Accountant and Personal Assistant to various Directors of Finance and Accounts
vii.          Federal Ministry of Works & Housing: (June 2001-Feb., 2004)

Principal Accountant and Deputy Head of Accounts Federal Fire         Service Accounts (Jan. 2002- Feb. 2004).

o   Senior Accountant and Deputy Head of Accounts, Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF) /Federal Surveys (June 2001-Sept. 2002)

viii.          Federal Ministry of Water Resources: (Nov., 1990-May, 2001)

o   Senior Accountant: Commenced my Civil Service Career as Finance Officer II and assumed office on 2nd May, 1991 (as Head of Cash Office); promoted Accountant 1 (1998)

  ix.          National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), 3rd Oct. 1989-6th Oct. 1990:  Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)                            Education Department, Abuja

o   Business Methods and Economics Tutor at the Government Secondary School, Kuje

 

Ad-hoc Responsibilities:

A key reformist and major role player in the Public Financial Management Reforms of the Treasury, Dr. Abalaka has served in several capacities in the country’s Public Service. Recent roles include, but not limited to:

i.          Current Chairman, Implementation Committee of the Revised Bottom-up Cash Management Policy of the Federal Government of                      Nigeria;

ii.          Member, FAAC IPSAS Implementation Committee;

iii.          Member, Governing Board, Federal Treasury Academy, Orozo, Abuja, FCT,

iv.          Member, Board of Trustees, Federal Government Housing Loans Board,

v.          Member/Secretary, Inter-Ministerial Committee on TSA Implementation;

vi.          Member/Secretary, Ways and Means Reconciliation Committee; National

vii.          Coordinator, Bottom-up Cash Planning of the FGN on the GIFMIS platform;

viii.          Coordinator, National Treasury Workshops,

ix.          Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, 5th National Treasury Workshop, amongst others.

 

Professional Certification and Membership

He is a Member of various professional and intellectual bodies across the globe, including but not limited to:

i.          Member, Policy, Leadership and Strategic Course 38 (PLSC 38, ani) of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, Kuru,-Jos

ii.          Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA);

iii.          Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCTI)

iv.          Fellow, Chartered Institute of Cost & Management Accountants (FCIMA)

v.          Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM)

vi.          Fellow, Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FCPA)

vii.          Fellow, Institute of Chartered Economics of Nigeria (FCE)

viii.          Fellow, Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors of Nigeria

ix.          Member, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (APA)

x.          Member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (MNIMN)

xi.          Fellow: International Chartered World Learned Society (FICWLS) since 2020

xii.          Fellow: Chartered World Institute of Encyclopaedia of Books (FCWEB) Since 2020

Academic Works and Publications

He has several over sixty (80) scholarly works and publications to his credit in both local and international journals. He has attended and anchored several local and international Courses, Workshops, Seminars and Retreats and presented papers at some of the fora, including several study tours to Philippines, Malaysia, The Gambia, Ghana. He has also gone on several missions to Papua New Guinea in the Pacific, South Africa, Botswana, Israel and a host of other countries.

Family Life

He is a philanthropist and is married to Mrs. Eleojo Dorcas Abalaka, equally an Accountant and blessed with children. He places high values family life. He is a crusader of accountability, transparency and integrity; serving as a great mentor to the younger generations of Nigerians and humanity.