NAN-HE-11
Synergy
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, June 23, 2017 (NAN) Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine on Friday, tasked auditors-general at all levels of government to work in synergy to boost the Federal Government’s war on corruption.
Ayine made the call in a statement signed by Mrs. O Ogunmosunle, the Head, Media and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in Abuja.
Ayine spoke when a team of Auditors-General for Local Governments in the Federation led by its Chairman, Mr Reuben Nwosu, visited him in his office.
He said the Office of the Auditor-General required independence to make the desired impact.
He commended move by the National Assembly on the proposed amendment for the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) and the states.
“I strongly support the position that the National Assembly should effect an amendment to specifically include the Office of Auditors-General for Local Governments (AGLG) in the Constitution.
“This will not only guarantee the independence of the Office of the AGLG, but will give confidence as well as enhance job performance at that critical level of auditing for public accountability.
“The House of Representatives has passed the Audit Bill presented to it by my Office.
“I am also optimistic that the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will also concur and pass the Audit Bill into law.
“When this is passed into law, it will strengthen the performance of the OAuGF, to achieve professional, administrative and financial independence, ’’he said.
Ayine pledged the commitment of the office of the Auditor-General to ensure that same were replicated at the state and local government levels, for the mutual benefit of Nigerians afterwards.
He said that the OAuGF had appointed a contact person to coordinate the joint collaborative efforts of all levels of the Offices of the Auditors-General in the country.
According to him, the move has become imperative because of the peculiarity of the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI), Nigeria, which has Auditor-General in all the three tiers: Federal, State and Local Governments.
According to the statement, the Chairman of the Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments in the Federation congratulated Ayine on his appointment as Auditor-General for the Federation.
Nwosu expressed confidence that the Auditor-General would promote transparency, accountability and integrity in the Public Financial Reporting of the Federal Government.
He implored the Auditor-General to sustain the Supreme Audit Institutions, (SAIs) in Nigeria, which are about 73, and ensure uniformity in practice, transparency, accountability and peer-review mechanisms in the institutions.
He, however, encouraged Ayine to ensure that SAIs, Nigeria under his watch and leadership showed clear commitment and collaboration with the Federal Government in its efforts in the anti-corruption drive.
“This should be shown in the public financial management of the Federal, State and Local Governments, ’Nwosu said. (NAN)
LCN/KOLE/EEE
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Ese E. Ekama