The Auditor General for the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine, has called for strengthening of probity, transparency and accountability in local government administration through ĺeffective auditing.
Ayine made the call during the opening of the 25th Annual Conference of Auditors-General of Local Governments, on Tuesday in Kaduna.
According to him, there should be maintenance of professionalism and uniformity in practice, as well as adherencd to appropriate auditing standards, guidelines, codes of ethics and conduct.
He said that auditors must be abreast with all standards and related guidelines to ensure efficiency.
“The Auditor is seen as an embodiment of knowledge; therefore, beyond getting acquainted with auditing standards, must also arm himself or herself with other standards.
“Such as International Public Sector Accounting Standards
(IPSAS), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and other regulations governing the Audit Entities,” he said.
According to him, any Auditor that wishes to excel as a true
watchdog of Public Finances and guaranty transparency, probity and accountability must be equipped with modern auditing tools and methodology.
“The above aspirations can only be achieved through continous seeking and acquiring of knowledge.
“Capacity development, therefore, remains key to
maintaining relevance in the auditing profession,” he said.
Ayine said since his assumption in office, he had embarked on several reforms, including giving capacity building a priority.
“We specifically ensured that the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation applied modern tools and methodologies in the conduct of its audit.
“These efforts culminated in the development of in-house Manuals, including Financial Audit Manual (FAM), Compliance Audit Manual (CAM).
” Performance Audit Manual (PAM) Information Technology Operational Manual and Quality Control and Assurance Manual,” he said.
He said these manuals were in line with international standards so as not to loose sight of uniformity in application.
He further said Auditors’ efforts should be geared at all levels to ensure that COVID-19 was not used as a conduit pipe to drain the resources of Government.
He also said to ensure acccountability of public funds, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, within weeks of the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19, held a virtual meeting on the audit of funds related to tackling the pandemic.
“As we move forward, there is need for continuous engagement and knowledge sharing amongst all Audit Institutions within and outside the Country.
“Especially the Public Institutions at the Federal and State levels to which we belong.
” This will ensure sustained uniformity in approach to audit mandate”, he stressed
