Abuja – The Society for Accountability and Good Governance has reiterated the need for urgent passage of Audit Bill in the National Assembly to add impetus to the fight against corruption.
The society, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, explained that the passage of the bill, seeking independent of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, would ensure greater transparency and accountability in the nation’s financial sector.
According to the society, the bill is entitled: “A Bill for an Act for the Establishment of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, Audit Service Commission, Additional Powers and Functions of Auditor-General and for Matters Connected Therewith.’’
The statement signed by Mr Austin Aliyu, the director of the society, observed that if the bill was passed, it would further strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
It said the society perceived that some interest groups within and outside the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation were lobbying lawmakers not to concur with the House of Representatives that had earlier passed the bill.
“These categories of people are not happy because the Auditor-General for the Federation has publicly told the truth that such people are not ready for accountability.
“Therefore, they want to operate as they had been doing before where no notice was taken of the office of the Auditor-General.
“How do we expect persons with degrees in sociology, geography, political science to head such a professional accounting office in the name of seniority in service?
“This incongruity cannot happen in the judiciary, health, engineering and Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation because the auditor-general requires higher background in accountancy.
“We need an act and the Senate should not delay the passage of the bill if it is supporting the present administration in its war against corruption, the public is monitoring developments in the senate,’’ the statement said.
The society warned that people should not tarnish the name of the Auditor-General of the Federation and trivialise his reports in connivance with some agencies that were indicted in the 2014 annual audit reports.
“It has also been discovered that the Auditor-General’s reports from 1999 to 2014 were for the period when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was in government.
During a retreat recently held in Abuja for personnel of Public Account Committee, financial analysts suggested that PAC should look into the reports for accountability,’’ the society said.
It also recalled that the Auditor-General of the Federation recently urged lawmakers at both federal and state levels to quickly pass their audit bill.
At the opening ceremony of the 42nd bi-annual auditors-general’s conference in Ilorin, the statement said the auditor-general expressed concern that the country was lagging behind smaller countries that had such an act in operation. (NAN)