After a 3-day retreat between the Public Accounts Committees - (PAC) of the National Assembly, external stakeholders and the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, FCA has calledfor autonomy of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in matters of Finance and Administration especially staffing.
The decision is based on the resolution of the United Nations A/66/209 of 22nd December, 2011 on Supreme Audit Institutions and the standards of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), which seek that adequate legislation be made to strengthen the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to be financially and administratively independent.
The Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) Nigeria is also calling on members of the Public Accounts Committees (PAC) of the National Assembly and other stakeholders to collaborate with the Office to enhance best Audit practices. It also appealed to the National Assembly to build checks and enforcement lines in legislation that will drive the legislative actions on audit reports such as time lines for publishing tabled reports.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation is promising to continuously review and report on Nigeria’s debt profile in line with international standards. It also resolved to implement its Communication Policy through activities that enlighten its stakeholders and Nigerian citizens of its operations while also suing for live Television coverage of deliberations on Auditor-General’s Report by Public Accounts Committees (PAC) and its consideration at plenary as is done in some other AFROSAI-E countries.
The retreat titled “The Role of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and the Public Accounts Committees (PAC) in Enhancing Accountability and Good Governance”, drew Resource Persons from all over AFROSAI-E countries including PAC members from the Ghanaian Parliament as well as Auditors-General from Gambia, Namibia, Ghana, and Academics who shared ideas on how to enhance the auditing function in the nation.