By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The appointment of Mr Aghughu Adolphus Arhotomhenia as the new Auditor-General for the Federation has been confirmed by the Senate.
Mr Arhotomhenla was nominated for the position by President Muhammadu Buhari and his name forwarded to the Senate through a letter for confirmation.
When the letter was read by the Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan, it was forwarded to the Committee on Public Accounts headed by Senator Matthew Urhoghide for further action.
On Wednesday, Mr Urhoghide submitted his report and urged his colleagues to confirm the appointment of Mr Arhotomhenia on the back that he is capable of discharging the duty.
After the motion was seconded at the plenary today by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Chairman of the committee laid and presented the report and the Senate dissolved to the Committee of the Whole to consider the report.
After the Senate reverted to plenary to report progress and confirmed the appointment of Mr Arhotomhenla, the Senate President charged him to ensure that he discharges his duties diligently.
“The Senate wishes the new Auditor-General well but let me also say that the National Assembly must ensure the Auditor-General remains truly autonomous and independent.
“We achieved so much by giving the Auditor-General a financial autonomy which he requires but I think we can do better as a government.
“The headquarters of the Audit House where the Auditor-General with his staff works is still not befitting.
“The Auditor-General needs office complex like the EFCC Complex where he can accommodate all his staff.
“We need to do a lot more to support the Auditor-General to be a lot more effective and efficient,” the Senate President said.
Mr Arhotomhenla, who hails from Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, was born on September 7, 1962.
His educational background started at Eguare Primary School, Ewatto from 1969 – 1975 with Primary School Leaving Certificate (Merit Grade); Teachers’ Certificate Grade 2 from St. Thomas’ Teachers College Ibusa, Delta State between 1975 – 1980; GCE (O/ L) Six credits 1980/81; Bendel State University, Ekpoma, Nigeria 1982 – 1986 with B.Sc Honours (Economics) 2nd Class Upper Division; National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State 1987; the University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria with M.Sc (Economics) Money and Banking in 1994 – 1997.
He is a Fellow of Association of National Accountant of Nigeria (ANAN) and a member of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACT l) and Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).
Modupe Gbadeyanka