Auditors and journalists have been advised to prioritize audit reporting to stem the tide of corruption in Nigeria.
The call was made at
the first Audit Reporting Training workshop in Benin City, Edo State.
Speaking ,Chief Chukwuemka Anika, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants urged auditors to stay ethical in their audit engagements and to sign only audits that align with their professional, ethical, and moral standards.
He stated that auditors-general in the 36 states and the media are critical to ensuring the accountability of public officers in the control and management of public funds
“Journalists and state auditors-general should follow the dictates of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do proper audit reporting. While the auditors-general will report their findings to the state houses of assembly, the media will comply with Section 22 of Chapter 2 to ensure that citizens get the information they need.”
Mr Godswill Omenogo, a chartered accountant
affirmed that the clamours for accountability can only be effective if all relevant stakeholders adhere strictly to processes and procedures as enshrined in our laws and related gazettes.” Relevant questions need to be asked, adequate information need to be provided, all relevant functionaries need to objectively carry out their respective functions.”
Also, the former Managing Director, Editor-in-Chief of Guardian Newspapers, Emeka Izeze, x-rayed various pathways to generating needed information and urged creativity in reportage of subjects suchas the audit reports of states.
Also, a renowned Columnist and former Editor of ThisWeek and MD of City Tempo Magazine ,Sonala Olumhense noted that “The governor cannot unilaterally remove a duly-appointed auditor -general unless that follows the intervention of two-thirds of the membership of the House of Assembly asking for such action on such constitutional grounds as inability to discharge the functions of his office or misconduct”. “The auditor-general cannot be removed from office before the legal retiring age except in such circumstances as inability to discharge the functions of his office or for misconduct”
He further said: “The Auditor-General is responsible only to the People through the House of Assembly, and once appointed, can remain in office until he retires or dies. That makes him a powerful, independent institution and servant of the constitution.”
A former managing director of New Age newspaper Mr Sully Abu charged journalists to be courageous, ethical, and conscientious in unfolding the contents of audit reports.
The Audit Reporting Training is a flagship capacity development programme of FrontFoot Media Initiative with Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project and targets the training of journalists. FrontFoot Media Initiative is undertaking the project under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WScIJ) and the sponsorship of the MacArthur Foundation.
