Nigeria’s audit process has not
been particularly efficient over the years, especially as government
ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have usually been found wanting in
various aspects year in, year out.
Findings from the auditor-general
of the federation’s annual report have usually shown how some of these MDAs
even fail to submit their audit reports. There have also been cases of excess
and unauthorised payments to several agencies as well as leakages in government
revenues and expenditure — all these the federal audit service commission bill
seeks to address.
Passed by the senate in March
2018, after it was first passed by the house of representative, the audit bill
aims to give legal backing to the office of the auditor-general and provide it
with additional powers and functions required for its needed independence.
The bill will also establish the
Federal Audit Service Commission and create office for two deputy
auditors-general who shall be of same rank in public service as a permanent
secretary the commission.
In addition, it mandates the MDAs
to submit their financial reports not later than 90 days into the next
financial year while the federal government should submit its not later than
June 30 of the following financial year — a fine of N500,000 awaits defaulters.
The functions of the office of
the auditor-general, as provided for in the bill are:
- Auditing, except when the constitution provides otherwise, of all revenues accruing to the federation and all expenditures of the Federation from all sources
- Auditing, except otherwise provided by the constitution, of donations, grants and loans accruable to the federal ministries, departments and agencies or other public entities.
- Carrying out performance audit by ensuring that federal government and its agencies business is economically, efficiently and effectively performed
- Auditing of international institutions to the extent of Nigeria’s contribution to such bodies.
- Auditing of all federal government and its agencies subsidies and their application.
- Auditing of all federal government and its agencies’ counterpart funded projects.
- Auditing of all Nigerian embassies, consulates and foreign mission.
The bill sent to the president last
year is yet to be considered. Section 58 subsections 4 of the 1999
constitution, as amended, gives the president 30 days to respond to bills
transmitted from the national assembly.
“Where a bill is presented to the
President for assent, he shall within 30 days thereof, signify that he assents
or that he withholds assent,” the section reads.
But nothing has been heard about
the bill. Attempts to get the reaction of Ita Enang, senior special assistant
to the president on national assembly (senate), did not yield the desired
result as he neither answered calls nor responded to a text message sent.
John Odita, an activist, had
described the silence from the presidency as an indication that it is not
serious in its anti-corruption war.
Senate President Bukola Saraki
had described the passage of the bill as a breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight
against corruption and said the commission will promote accountability in the
public service.
Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of service
of the federation, had also expressed optimism on the bill.
“The audit bill will be very good
once this act comes… right now the auditor-general’s office is just operating
and being treated as another MDA or part of the government structure. They are
not having enough teeth to carry out their functions effectively,” she had
said.
But as things stand now, no one
is certain about when the president would act on the bill.
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