The Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments has urged the Constitiution Review Committee to provide for a legal framework that would strengthen independence of its office.
The Auditor General for Local Government in Lagos State, Mrs Adesumbo Abolarin, made the recommendation at the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitiution in Lagos on Wednesday.
Abolarin said that this was necessary in order to ensure optimal performance by the Auditors-General for local government in Nigeria.
She noted that the independence was to also position them to provide services and ensure transparency, accountability and value for money in local government operations.
“We earnestly request that the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government should be explicitly provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The provision should define the mode of appointments, powers, duties of the office to strengthen the office.
“This is to adequately position the office for onerous tasks of auditing local government account to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds,” Abolarin said
She noted that given the critical roles the auditor-general for local government played, especially in the scrutiny of their expenditures, it was important to give it a legal framework for its operations.
Abolarin said this would enable the office to discharge its functions in the most effective, efficient and seemless manner.
According to her, a legal framework will position the office to effectively support accountability, transparency and the fight against corruption in the country.
She said the fight could only be reenergised and sustained with the existence of a three fold audit independence.
Abolarin said this would give the legal, administrative and financial autonomy to the office of the auditor general for local government in the country. (NAN)
