Audit Defaulters Risk 5-Yr Jail, N20m Fine

Audit

by John Ojewale
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Nigeria-National-Assembly on audit

The National Assembly has imposed a five-year prison sentence on all accounting offices. Majorly those that deny access to their account books upon request to the Auditor-General of the Federation. This provision was made after the Federal Audit Service bill adopted the bill in accordance with the bill’s consensus in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, however, moved the debate for concurrence. The Senate okayed this after dissolving to the committee of the Whole.

But the chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (APC Edo South), told journalists after plenary that the bill seeks to strengthen the office of the Auditor General for the Federation. The Bill was first passed in the 8th Senate.

In his words-

“The Office of the Auditor General for the Federation is supposed to check systemic corruption by checking all expenditure of the ministries, departments and agencies of government as provided for by Section 85 of the Constitution.

“The Office of the Auditor General for the Federation is independent of the executive arm of government. It relates directly with the National Assembly.

However, the second aspect of the bill seeks the establishment of the Federal Audit Commission. Essentially, to be able to recruit the proper staff, discipline and promotion.

This is because it was noted with dismay that the Audit has a populated staff who did not study accounting but were employed in the audit department probably for political reasons.

 

 

cc: Daily Post Ng

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