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After 34 years of Anambra’s existence, Soludo released funds for auditing for the first time, according to SAG
Akosa gave the praise in Awka at the 2023 Audit Forum and Citizens Accountability Dialogue, which was hosted by the state Auditor-General’s office.
In order to allow the office to conduct performance audits, inspections, and monitoring, as well as peer reviews, tours, allowances, repairs, and audit forum expenses, he said the governor this year released funds for audit activity and inspection for the first time since the state’s founding.
However, he pointed out that his office needed money to furnish the new building that the government had built four years ago so that the staff could move in soon as well as to increase the capacity of his employees.
He said, “My office, has over the years rendered auditing services to the state, expressing opinion on financial statements of the state and bringing to the fore audit findings and issues within the period under review for legislative attention and public knowledge.
“My office creates an atmosphere where the expectation gap in audit is reduced to the barest minimum because we bring to the attention of both the auditee and the citizens’ observations of audit on the financial management of the state and recommendations to address the observed audit issues.”
Akosa further said the dialogue was targeted at enabling strategic stakeholders in Public Fund administration and management to interact with citizens to enlighten them on government activities, challenges facing fund generation and issues observed in its application within the period under review.
He expressed optimism that fallout from the engagement would strengthen the relationship between government and the governed, increase the reliability on government information and provide a positive assessment of transparency and accountability of the state.
“The dialogue will also be looking at the options available to Ministries, Department and Agencies to reform their working practices to influence improvements in the accountability ecosystem,” he added.
Presenting a paper on “Audit as a tool for state development”, a university don, Prof. Patrick Egbunike described auditors as the cornerstone to governance, linking accountability with institutional efficiency and driving state development.
He however called for increased training of auditors for more efficiency in view of their enormous responsibilities, including sustaining fiscal accountability, promoting transparency in public finances, and enhancing anti-corruption measures, among others.
Another paper presenter, Prof Anthony Agu in his paper titled, “Public Finance and Accountability in Democracy” called for review and update existing laws to impose harsher sanctions for embezzlement, mismanagement and fraud.
He also canvassed for establishment of special anti-corruption courts to expedite the prosecution of financial crimes.
“It’s also necessary to publicize the consequences of financial misconduct to enhance the deterrent effect and restore public confidence in anti-corruption measures,” he added.
