Financial misappropriation among govt officials is a global phenomenon – Adegoke

By Uchenna Okeh 

The National Chairman of the Federal and State Auditor Generals of Nigeria, Sunday Adegoke has described financial misappropriation and other corrupt activities, especially among public offices as a global phenomenon.  

He, however, called on public finance actors, especially the key government functionaries, to be more active in the  war against corruption in the country.

Adegoke made this known while speaking with newsmen at a 4-day capacity building for the Auditor-Generals held at the Meritona hotel, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

The National chairman, Adegoke also called for a holistic approach in the fight against the menace of corruption/ financial misappropriation in the country.

He further advocated for a uniform auditing standard in the auditing profession across the country.

“Public finance actors, especially the key government functionaries who hold one or more responsibilities in managing public finances, are primarily responsible parties to ensure that this menace (corruption) is brought down. 

“There is a possibility, and the risk is there, that may spot a place for the managers of the public finances, need to detect each fraud – that is either to detect or prevent the fraud,” he stated.

Adegoke, who is  Ondo State Auditor General, explained that the workshop was centered on ‘enhancing public sector auditors’ performance for relevance and value addition’ in the country.

He said the capacity building program would equip his members with prerequisite knowledge and guidelines to ensure the sustenance of the standards requirements of the organization in the public auditing profession.

He stressed the need for the Auditor Generals to always discharge their expected duties as public auditors pertaining to financial reports to avoid fraud.

“We will just come in as reviewers to take a look at whatever report they have submitted and look at the financial management system. And where, for instance, a fraud is detected, we report it so that those places can be dealt with as provided by the laws. And what we have come here is to strengthen the capacity of the personnel,” 

He maintained that the Auditor Generals should be guided by the provisions of the constitution of Nigeria while carrying out the public finance auditing before submitting the report(s) to the House of the Assembly in their various states. 

He observed that no erring auditor would escape the wrath of the law as the various auditors have their codes of conduct checkmating the professional members’ actions and activities. 

Earlier in a remark, the Head of the Sub-Supreme of Auditor generals and auditor-general of Ebonyi State, Samuel Uduma, said the four-day training program would be of great benefit to the Auditors General, especially in getting abreast with the prerequisite knowledge for the public auditing profession.

He lamented that the south East region appeared to be most backward in auditing system in the country.

Uduma, however commended Governor Francis Nwifuru, for sponsoring the program and described the gesture as the first of its kind in the country.

“There is a very big gap, most of the Auditor-Generals and their staffs, don’t know a lot of things concerning current happenings in the auditing profession, public sector auditing profession. 

“So, this is why we are here. We want to have a common auditing standard. We want to streamline it and not what this person will be writing this, another person will be writing that”, he said