Performance audit will bring about improvement in governance says Auditor-General for the Federation

Report from Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Samuel Tyonongo Ukura has stated that the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation can provide the “audit solution” through performance Audit that could ensure that resources available for governance are deployed in an economic, efficient and effective manner to bring about improvements in governance.

Mr. Ukura made this statement Friday, 26th June, 2015 during the graduation ceremony of AFROSAI-E regional three module course in Performance Audit 2014/2015 Edition. The Auditor-General stated that with the number of performance auditors in the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation being boosted to a total of forty-eight (48) the Office is gradually being equipped with officers of relevant skills and competence to audit the nation’s account in the most professional and transparent manner.

This will ensure value for money in Government financial activities for the benefit of the Nigerian people and transform the Office of the Auditor–General to a foremost anti corruption institution in the country.

Mr. Ukura revealed that as a result of regional and international cooperation of other Supreme Audit Institutes (SAIs), SAI Nigeria has participated in Joint Environmental Audit on the drying up of the Lake Chad with member countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger of Lake Chad Basin Commission.

Also ongoing is the Cooperative Environmental Audit on Implementation of Local Content Policy (employment training and procurement) in Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria with SAIs of AFROSAI-E member countries from South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ghana.

The Auditor-General expressed the hope that the impact of performance audit activities would be assessed when sanctions imposed on Ministries, Departments and Agencies found culpable and audit recommendation are faithfully implemented to bring about improvement in governance.

He said the development will have positive effects on the management of public funds, ensure financial discipline, reduce waste and curb corruption. Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Audit Programmes and Performance Audit Department, Mr. Olusola Ajao revealed that six performance audit reports are undergoing the quality assurance test while some are at various stages to completing.

Performance audit (PA) is an independent, objective and reliable examination of whether government undertakings, systems, operations, programmes and activities are operating in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. It is an information based activity that requires analytical and creative skill.

The 2014/2015 AFROSAI-E module course of twenty seven drew participants from Supreme Audit Institutions of Nigeria, Uganda, Gambia and Liberia. It was coordinated by Mr Lars Florin, the senior manager, performance audit, AFROSAI- E with other facilitators from SAI Namibia, SAI Sweden, SAI Sierra- Leone, SAI Ghana and SAI Nigeria

Source:Fed. Min. Of Information