The National Assembly of Nigeria has passed a bill prescribing a five-year jail term or a fine of five million naira, or both, for any accounting officer who obstructs the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation from accessing their account books. The bill seeks to strengthen the office of the Auditor General for the Federation, which is responsible for checking systemic corruption in Nigeria by monitoring the expenditure of all government departments, ministries, and agencies. The Federal Audit Commission will also be established to recruit and maintain the right personnel to audit the accounts of over 797 federal agencies.
The bill was initially passed by the 8th National Assembly, but President Muhammadu Buhari did not give his assent due to the advice of some executive members who were against it. The 9th Assembly, however, believes that passing the Federal Audit Service Bill will help to combat corruption and leave behind a legacy of transparency and accountability.
The Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, said that the least penalty for individual defaulters is five-year imprisonment or a fine of five million naira, while corporate agencies that refuse to audit their accounts for years will be fined N20m.
The Office of the Auditor General for the Federation is independent of the executive arm of government and is responsible for checking all government expenditure as provided for by Section 85 of the Constitution. The bill aims to give more power to the Auditor General’s office, which has been weakened over the years due to a lack of personnel and resources.
The passing of the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly will help to strengthen the fight against corruption in Nigeria and ensure that accounting officers are held accountable for their actions. The bill will also deter others from obstructing the work of the Auditor General’s office and will ensure that proper auditing is carried out across all government agencies