Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for collaboration between the federal and state auditors-general to build a robust accountability ecosystem in Nigeria, saying that sharing best practices, harmonising audit standards, and investing in capacity building would enhance the nation’s collective ability to detect inefficiencies and promote transparency.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Wednesday at the 54th Bi-Annual Conference of the Body of Federal and States Auditors-General, with the theme: ‘Nigerian Accountability Ecosystem: Leveraging on Performance Audit for Effective Governance and Transparency’, held at the Grand Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
ALSO READ: Sanwo-Olu commissions two ‘Greater Lagos’ housing projects
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, while emphasizing the need for collaboration, warned that without accountability, governance becomes opaque, and corruption thrives.
According to him, accountability is the cornerstone of democracy, urging Auditors-General to ensure that public officials and institutions were answerable for their actions and decisions.
“To build a robust accountability ecosystem in Nigeria, collaboration between federal and state auditors-general is essential. Sharing best practices, harmonizing audit standards, and investing in capacity building will enhance our collective ability to detect inefficiencies and promote transparency.
“Without accountability, governance becomes opaque, and corruption thrives. As custodians of public funds, Auditors-General play a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity of our public institutions,” he said.
Besides, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted that leveraging technology, such as data analytics, real-time monitoring, and blockchain, can revolutionise the audit process, making it more efficient and less susceptible to manipulation.
He, therefore, urged the Auditors-General to embrace innovation in audit methodologies, foster inter-agency and inter-governmental cooperation, advocate for stronger legal frameworks that empower auditors, and most importantly, remain steadfast in their commitment to integrity and impartiality.
The governor, however, elucidated that Lagos had embraced performance audit as a key mechanism to evaluate its policies and projects, citing that through rigorous performance audits, the government had identified bottlenecks in public transportation, healthcare delivery, and education, enabling Lagos State to implement targeted reforms that had yielded tangible results.
According to him, the state has consistently prioritized transparency and accountability in all spheres of government, affirming that the state government’s commitment to these principles was reflected in initiatives such as the Lagos State Public Procurement Law, the Open Budget Portal, and the digitization of government services, which efforts had enhanced public trust and improved service delivery.
Also speaking,Lagos State Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Olabode Agoro, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Olasunkanmi Oyegbola, employed auditors at both the state and Federal levels, not to see themselves as the policemen of the system, but as partners in progress with all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that they worked with.
Agoro urged them to ensure that the discipline of quality, integrity, and accountability in the public service is promoted.
The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, in his own address, stated that auditors must build a stronger institutional framework, invest in training and technology, and foster interagency collaboration, adding: “In doing so, we will not only improve our audit outcomes but also restore public recourse in governance.”
Chira assured that his office remained committed to working closely with Auditors-General across the state and local government to advance its common goals.
This was just as he noted that auditors were constantly mandated to serve as a watchdog of public resources, providing independent assurance to the people, and be a representative in the legislation.
“We are strong together, and our shared ambition of an entrepreneurial future is realistic. We will persevere with professionalism, integrity, and our resolve to achieve results,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Lagos State Auditor-General, Dr. Muyiwa John Adetola, reaffirmed that the body of the Auditor-General was committed to transparency, accountability, and good governance.
He said the theme for the 54th conference was in line with the state vision for the auditing profession in the country, stressing that auditing, without doubt, “is a force for good governance, transparency, and integrity.”
“A force for good is a call to action for every Auditor-General to work together in promoting the three virtues mentioned,” he said.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then