Auditor’s Report: N’Assembly to Sanction Erring MDAs

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The National Assembly has promised to ensure that any ministry, department or agency (MDA) of government indicted by the 2016 auditor-general’s report will be made to face the music.

Speaking while receiving the 2016 Auditor General’s report in Abuja on Thursday, the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Samni Omolori, who spoke on behalf of the parliament, vowed to ensure that every agency of government queried by the report would be invited for explanation.

Section 85 sub section 5 of the 1999 constitution as amended mandates the auditor general to, within 90 days of receipt of the accountant general’s financial statement, submit his reports to the National Assembly.

The subsection states inter alia: “The Auditor-General shall, within ninety days of receipt of the Accountant General’s financial statement, submit his reports under this section to each House of the National Assembly and each House shall cause the reports to be considered by a committee of the House of the National Assembly responsible for public accounts.”

Omolori commended the auditor general for keeping within the rules and international best practices of financial management.

The Information Secretary of the National Assembly Management, Mr. Ishaku Dibal, in a statement quoted the clerk as saying the National Assembly would be willing to assist the auditor general’s office to ensure that rules, conventions and constitutional provisions are strictly adhered to without fear or favour.

The CNA further said: “I want to commend you for this commitment and assure you that we are partners in progress.

“On our part we are ready to open our doors for you so that you continue to draw our attention to what we do so that you continue to draw our attention where we are not doing the right things.”

Presenting the report, the Auditor General for the Federation, Mr. Anthony Ayine, assured the National Assembly of the readiness of his office to abide by the provisions of the constitution and adhere to best practices.

He explained that the 2016 report were in four hard copies and two soft copies.