BY FESTUS OKOROMADU
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has described the continued absence of a substantive Auditor-General for the Federation over a year as dangerous for the nation.
The Chairman of the Committee, Ahmed Wadada (SDP-Nasarawa State) who stated this during the Committee’s inaugural meeting held on Friday, said at a time the government is preaching anti-corruption and accountability, “the absence of an Auditor-General makes our effort a joke.”
He said the committee had made effort to unravel the mystery behind the inability of the Federal Government to appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the Federation by inviting the director overseeing the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to appear before the committee, “but there was no clear information on what the problem really is.”
According to him, “On assumption of office as chairman, I directed the Clerk of the Committee to invite the acting Auditor-General for the federation and the Executive Secretary of NEITI.
“On the arrival of the acting Auditor-General for the federation, I got to understand that he was not even the acting-Auditor-General but only a director overseeing the office, which of course, clearly shows that Nigeria does not have an Auditor-General.
“That is why the Auditor-General’s Report for 2020, 2021 and 2022 are not ready as he cannot append his signature on them because he is not a substantive Auditor-General, or a fully, formal acting Auditor-General.”
Wadada explained that the situation made him write to the President earlier to intimate him about the challenge at hand, adding that unless that was resolved, they may not be able to go beyond considering the 2019 Auditor-General’s Report.
“If we cannot go beyond this, that means that the committee will be handicapped in discharging or achieving the set objective, which is fundamentally about ensuring accountability and transparency,” he said.
He further raised concerns as to why the Auditor-General’s Annual Reports were sent to the Senate late.
“We have taken the acting Auditor-General on this and the key thing he said was that most of the MDAs do not, at various times, present what they should have presented to his office. That is why the reports usually come in arrears.
“As a committee, we shall not entertain that at all,” he said.
Wadada further said that the committee would embark on a status inquiry into the financial operations of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
This, he said, was to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of the public accounts of the federation in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution, Senate Standing Orders and extant laws.
Also speaking, Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) expressed dismay over the delay in submitting the Auditor-General’s Annual Report as and when due.
“Why is it not coming at the time it is supposed to come? Is there any reason that the Auditor-General’s annual report shouldn’t come at the time it’s supposed to come? So why will it be in arrears?” Izunaso asked.
