‘Strengthen your audit reforms’ FG tells states and LGs
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has called on State Governments in the country to enhance the reforms in audit laws that were introduced under the World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme for Results (SFTAS-PforR).
The SFTAS programme aims to improve fiscal transparency and accountability, boost domestic revenue mobilization, enhance efficiency in public spending, and strengthen debt sustainability at the local government level.
Dr. Ali Mohammed, the SFTAS National Programme Coordinator (NPC), made this appeal during a Zonal Workshop for Audit Officers from the Offices of the States and Local Government Auditors General for the South West Zone, held in Lagos.
Dr. Ali emphasized the importance of audit laws as effective tools for promoting transparency and accountability in governance, also urged States and Local Governments to continually strengthen these laws.
Organized by the SFTAS Programme Coordination Unit in collaboration with the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, the workshop aims to provide additional Technical Assistance (TA) to States and Local Governments, with the goal of enhancing the professional capabilities of their Auditor-General Offices for efficient service delivery.
Dr. Ali urged the participants from the six States in the South West Region to remain vigilant in monitoring the implementation of audit laws and ensuring adherence to the provisions of these laws.
He commended the Lagos State Government for its commendable efforts in implementing sound fiscal reforms that have significantly improved the state’s internal revenue generation.
Dr. Fawale Busayo, the SFTAS Independent Verification Agent (IVA) Programme Manager from the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, provided an overview of the Audit Laws during the workshop.
These laws he said aim to strengthen the Office of the Auditor-General (State and Local Government), promote the establishment of Audit Commissions, and ensure the Auditor’s role in Public Finance Management across the three tiers of government in Nigeria.
The laws also emphasize the importance of probity, accountability, and transparency in the implementation of approved budgets and the expression of independent opinions on annual financial statements.
The South West workshop focused on various areas, including the implementation of Cash Management and the use of a Treasury Single Account, improving public finance management performance, strengthening internal control systems to enhance internally generated revenues, addressing irregular payments and ghost workers/ghost pensioners, publishing procurement transactions and contract award information, managing debt and ensuring debt sustainability, and preparing and publishing reports on domestic debt and arrears.
Dr. Busayo stated that the five-day Train-the-Trainer workshop aimed to enhance the professional independence of the Auditor-General Offices for States and Local Governments and ultimately improving their performance.
The workshop utilized case study exercises and practical experiences to ensure the adoption of international best practices through the approved Financial Audit Methodology.
