From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine, has charged the staff of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) to discharge their duties with utmost diligence and shunning corrupt practices, to make positive impact in the urgent task of nation building.
He gave the charge during the launch of the OAuGF Regularity Audit Guide, Code of Conduct and Ethics, Quality Control and Assurance Manual and the OAuGF E – Learning Portal in Abuja.
According to him, the launch was in continuation of the implementation of the road map towards re-positioning and reforming the OAuGF to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
He said: “Auditors must always be a step ahead of accountants because you cannot audit what you don’t know.”
He said the office with the support of Department For International Development (DFID), prepared materials to help train the staff in addition to the in-house training programmes on the new auditing methods.
Ayine added: “It is expected of auditors with right skills to do a thorough job in line with international best practices. Auditors must have integrity and objectivity to conclude their job and report all their findings in full.
“They must be knowledgeable, skilful, diligent, of high integrity and impactful through their quality deliverables.”
Former chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, challenged the OAuGF to take up its constitutional role and lead the anti-corruption war in the country.
He observed that OAuGF failed to make serious impact because of its inability to improve on the system over the years.
He said if the OAuGF performed its duties as assigned by the constitution, there would not be need for the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He charged auditors to be ready “to rebrand, re-orientate their minds in line with the ethics of the profession and know that their assignment remains a constitutional role that goes beyond the Auditor-General and the President.”