NAN-H-74
Accountability
By Cecilia Ijuo
Abuja, Sept. 25, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Ladi Hamalai, Director-General of National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), has called for the strengthening of office of Auditor-General of Federation as part of efforts to check corruption.
Hamalai made the call in a keynote address at a Colloquium organised by the institute for journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on “Legislative Power of Appropriation/Budget Reform Process” in Abuja on Monday.
She said that independence of the auditor-general was critical.
She added that it was disheartening office of the auditor-general was not adequately empowered to hold public office holders accountable in spite of the critical position of the office in that regard.
“What other countries do is to increase the tenure of the auditor-general up to 15 years and he or she cannot be removed unless there is a two-third majority vote of the legislature.
“Even, the president cannot sack such a person because he or she has had a level of independent to work without interference unless the person is lazy.
“Also, all their reports ought to go to the National Assembly or the parliament and not to the executive.
“In the United States for instance, you have the Government Accountability Office with inspectors permanently posted to monitor and report activities of all ministries and other organisations.
“They either report to the Inspector General of CAO or report directly to the legislature.
“So, in the US, the CAO is an agency of the parliament and not the executive,’’ Hamalai said.
She stressed the need to amend provisions of the Constitution relating to the office to strengthen it as obtained in other climes.
On budget implementation, the director-general said that although budget was an important tool for economic management and development, it had not met expectations of improved service delivery and development in Nigeria unlike in other countries.
She said the situation had given rise to the compelling need for a comprehensive reform of the budget.
According to her, a budget reform will address the various flaws and challenges bedevilling the nation’s budgeting system to make it in tandem with current dynamics.
Hamalai said that the country’s budget processes had many weaknesses, adding that there was no organic budget law that combined budget laws in a single document.
She added that existing laws and regulations did not provide adequately for a fixed and realistic budget calendar and public participation in the budget process.
The director-general further said that there was lack of clear timelines in presenting the budget before the National Assembly.
“There are various weaknesses and challenges to the country’s budget process, which include absence of a reliable and comprehensive database on socio-economic conditions of the country.
“Also, there is absence of a rigorous analytical framework for determining policy objectives, lack of consistency in developing planning and weak link between development plans and annual budgets resulting in poor development outcomes.
“The Nigerian budget is a political tool rather than an instrument for development,’’ she said.
Hamalai stressed the need for a budget law, budget calendar and public engagement among other solutions.
She commended President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, for inaugurating a Technical Committee on Budget Reforms to produce a budget reform strategy paper and draft reform. (NAN)
CJM/OFN/OPI
Edited by Felix Nwadioha and Olisa Ifeajika