Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting auditors-general, acknowledging that they played crucial roles in ensuring effective governance and driving national development.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this reaffirmation through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, while receiving the Leadership of the Body of Federal and States Auditors-General on a courtesy visit, led by the Chairman, Body of Federal and States Auditors-General/Auditor-General of Ondo State, Sir Sunday Omoniyi Adegoke, at the office of the Deputy Governor, Alausa Ikeja.
The governor said it was important for state governments to take the audit sector seriously to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective governance in their respective states and the nation in general.
The governor, who expressed delight in hosting the delegation, noted that Lagos State takes the state audit sector very seriously, recognizing that auditors were the gatekeepers of public resources.
He stressed that effective auditing was crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance, which were essential for driving development and delivering results to citizens.
He reiterated that auditor support was vital for progress, emphasising that transparency and accountability were key to good governance, adding that by embracing audit recommendations, governments can build trust with citizens and drive development.
“We are very happy to host you. And the reason is that we understand that the job you do is very important. A lot of people see auditors as bad cops, but in Lagos, we don’t.
“We know that it doesn’t matter how good your intentions are, one can make mistakes, and, therefore, we must listen to our auditors, so that when we make mistakes, we are corrected by them,” he said.
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Governor Sanwo-Olu, therefore, urged other states in the federation to see auditors as an important component of governance, even as he equally urged auditors to be bold and persistent in their dealings.
Earlier in his remarks, Sir Adegoke stated that the conference provided a platform for auditors to engage with industry leaders, sharing experiences and discussing critical issues related to accountability in the country.
Adegoke noted that the purpose of the visit was to express gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu for hosting the 54th Bi- Annual Conference of the body, describing the event as unique coming only from Lagos.
“We want to appreciate you for hosting us well, because the kind of arrangement that was put in place for the hosting of this year’s conference is one of its kind. We have seen this and we have said it over and over again, it can only be Lagos,” he said.
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