By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the importance of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF), declaring that with the help of the OAuGF, the country can do much more in audit reforms.
Mr Buhari, represented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, made this declaration at the launch and public presentation of a 5-year Strategic Development Plan for the OAuGF on Thursday, September 21, 2017
Mrs Adeosun, who commended the efforts of the OAuGF at producing quality audit work in spite of limited funding, congratulated the office on its good work of producing a Strategic Development Plan that is comprehensive.
She acknowledged that it was the first time such a document was produced in the OAuGF and it is fundamental.
Mrs Adeosun spoke of the need to have a constitutional amendment for the OAuGF to be effective and also expressed support for the Audit Bill to be passed into law.
The Minister expressed gladness at the support and partnership of UK DFID and other development partners.
She advised office to make a commitment towards training and retraining of staff to be abreast with developments in the accounting world and to be able to meet up with the challenges of evolving development in accounting and auditing.
The leaderships of the Public Accounts Committees in the Senate and House of Representatives in their goodwill addresses pledged their willingness to support and partner with the OAuGF .They also promised to fast track the passage of the Audit Bill into law and advocate for adequate funding for the office.
The representative of the United Kingdom Government, Mr Richard Ough in his speech expressed the commitment of the United Kingdom Government to continue to deepen the partnership with the OAuGF in the Anti-Corruption Crusade.
Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-ita in her address also acknowledged the important role of the OAuGF. She expressed the hope that the poor financing of the office and inadequate capacity and training will be addressed by the 5- year Strategic Development Plan that is being launched. Mrs Oyo – Ita appealed for hard work and improvement of financial activities and reporting. She advised that the audit Institution should be more of a corrective Institution rather than punitive.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr Anthony Mkpe Ayine stated that the OAuGF is ready to chart a new path towards value adding services to the nation and effectively fulfilling its constitutional mandate
According to him the Strategic Development Plan being launched sets out the office efforts to reverse decades of under performance by the audit function as well as under-investment in Audit.
Mr Ayine also appealed for the Audit Bill to be passed to law for true independence of the Audit Institution.
Dipo Olowookere 
Adedapo Adesanya