From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has said weak audit and accounting systems in the country were fueling corruption.
Chairman, House Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Bamidele Salam, stated this, yesterday, at a budget defence session with the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF).
Salam noted that corruption was depriving the government of revenue needed for development and charged the OAuGF to expand its coverage of major ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.
The lawmaker decried the poor implementation of the capital components of the 2024 budget, stating that there was a need for the government to block loopholes in revenue generation as a means of increasing government finance and reducing borrowing.
“There are a lot of monies that ought to accrue to the government that we are losing as a result of weaknesses in our accounting systems, weaknesses in auditing, weaknesses in general financial management architecture. And this also has reflected even in the budget performance of the Auditor General’s office.
“The committee raised a few observations also on the need for the Auditor General to expand its coverage of major Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a manner that will put greater attention on the places that have more of the revenue.
“There are some of the major agencies of government that have not been well audited in the last couple of years. And if you don’t audit properly, you are giving an indication that there is less attention on certain agencies and that may promote a lot of impunity happening in those agencies.”
Salam challenged the OAuGF to ensure prompt submission of audit reports to the National Assembly, noting that it is crucial to ensure accountability in government.
The Auditor General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, in his presentation, told the lawmakers that his office is contending with paucity of funds and limited staff. Chira noted that results in late compilation and submission of annual audit reports.
Nevertheless, he said his office is working towards addressing the backlog of reports. “My commitment is to submit 2022 in the month of March. That’s the one that has to do with the non-compliance.That’s the domestic report, “ Chira stated.