Public Sector Accounting

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under Public Sector Accounting, the JAMB Principles of Accounts syllabus expects you to study:

• 17. Public Sector Accounting a. Accounting basis in public sector b. Sources of government revenue c. Capital and recurrent expenditure d. Consolidated Revenue Fund e. Statement of assets and liabilities f. Responsibilities and powers of: i. The Accountant General ii. The Auditor General iii. The Minister of Finance iv. The Treasurer of Local Government g. Instruments of financial regulation h. Current issues in public sector Accounting: i. Treasury Single Account (TSA) ii. International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) iii. Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)

Study notes & guidance

Study Public Sector Accounting using a recommended Principles of Accounts textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Principles of Accounts, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying Public Sector Accounting, you should be able to:

1. Differentiate between public and private sector accounting;
2. Identify the sources of government revenue;
3. Differentiate between capital and recurrent expenditure;
4. Calculate consolidated revenue fund and determine the values of assets and liabilities;
5. Identify the duties of the Accountant General, Auditor General, Minister of Finance and Treasurer of Local Government;
6. Distinguish between elements of control in government accounting procedures e.g. warrant, votes, budget and due process certificate; and
7. Understand current trends in public sector Accounting.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Principles of Accounts syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.