AGF raps NASS over audit report •Says NASS fails to scrutinise reports for 12yrs

THE Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Samuel Ukura, on Wednesday, indicted both the Senate and House of Representatives for their failure, in the past 12 years

to look into annual audit reports submitted to them by his predecessors for onward transmission to the presidency for ratification.

He, however, appealed to the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, look into the reports so as to give meaning to the work of his office.

The AGF made the revelation while on a visit to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal.

He declared that despite the fact that both chambers passed the law compelling the AGF to always submit annual audit reports to them, none of the reports submitted to them had been attended to.

According to him, before he assumed office as the AGF, “several annual audit reports had been submitted to both chambers with the view to ensuring that these reports are considered at the plenary sessions, following recommendations by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), of both chambers.”

He stressed that “however, records had shown that none of the said audit reports, the current one inclusive, has been discussed at the plenary sessions and I am not sure whether any has been considered at the plenary session or passed to the president for implementation.”

He added that “I believe that the current House of Representatives, under your able leadership, will kindly assist my office towards ensuring that the draft audit bill is given accelerated hearing and forwarded to the president for his assent as soon as possible.”

Responding to issues raised by the AGF, Tam-buwal assured him and his team that the House leadership would do everything to ensure that the annual audit reports were attended to immediately, as soon as the House received them.

“This request is timely, because the House is already treating and networking into the legislative agenda that would last for four years and that is the periscope on how the cost of governance can be minimised,” the speaker said.

Honourable Tambuwal also assured the AGF that all necessary assistance would be rendered to his office and ensure the passage of the bill, with a promise that budgetary provision would be made in the 2012 budget for the office to meet its needs.