Federal government has urged state governments in the country to strengthen audit law reforms initiated under the World Bank-assisted States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme for results introduced by the federal government which seeks to increase fiscal transparency and accountability, strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation, increase efficiency in public expenditure and strengthen debt sustainability at sub national level.
The call was made by the SFTAS national programme coordinator, Mr. Ali Mohammed in Lagos on Monday while declaring open, a zonal workshop for audit officers drawn from the 9ffices of the states and local government auditors general for the South West zone.
Mr. Ali who was represented by the programme deputy national programme coordinator, Dr. Essien Akparawa observed that state audit laws remain veritable tools for increased transparency and accountability in governance that need to be continuously strengthened by states and local governments.
According to the NPC, the workshop being organised by the SFTAS programme coordination unit, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in collaboration with the Office of the auditor-general for the federation which is one of the implementing agencies for the programme is aimed at providing further technical assistance to the states and local governments as part of the programme’s goals to strengthen the professional capacity of the states and local government auditor-general offices for effective service delivery.
Addressing the participants drawn from the six South West zone, Ali charged them to maintain eternal vigilance over the implementation of audit laws through sustained close monitoring to ensure that states do not derail from the provisions of the law.
He commended the Lagos State government for being a pace setter in implementing sound fiscal reforms.
Giving highlights of the audit laws earlier, SFTAS, independent verification agent programme manager, Dr. Fawale Busayo explained that the audit law provides for promotion of the effectiveness, efficiency and independence of the office of the auditor-general’s.
The workshop is to facilitate the implementation of Cash Management and the use of a Treasury Single Account; focus on public finance management performance with the growth of internally generated revenues through effective internal control system, communication specialist for SFTAS programme, Ibrahim Mohammed.
Other areas include: stronger controls around payroll to address irregular payments and ghost workers / ghost pensioners; Publication of Procurement transactions and contract award information; Focus on managing debt and ensuring debt sustainability and Preparation and publication of domestic debt and arrears reports.
Dr. Busayo adds that the 5-day train-the-trainer workshop which seeks to improve the professional independence of the offices of the auditor-general for states and local governments will further deepen the professionalism and generally improve the performance of the state and local government auditor-general offices, adding that the module employs both concepts and practical interface with field officers using case study exercises and practical experience to ensure the adoption of international good practice using the approved financial audit methodology.
