The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to evolve a joint work-plan and visits to revenue generating agencies, to help government save up to N100 billion within a one-year period.
The partnership will involve to carry out a system study and review exercise of revenue-generating agencies that will strengthen accountability and the fight corruption beginning with Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS).
In his address during the agreement signing ceremony which took place on Wednesday at the Audit House in Abuja, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Anthony Mkpe Ayine, said the fight against corruption is enormous and without effective collaboration, efforts can be duplicated and loopholes created for fraud to go undetected.
Ayine said: “As auditors, we do not have law enforcement responsibilities and power, however, we do come across many instances where there is a need for such intervention. We therefore expect the ICPC’s law enforcement powers to complement our audit efforts”
“Both institutions have agreed to prioritize the audit/review of revenue generating agencies in view of the impact it will have on government’s ability to implement the 2020 budget. We have set ourselves a clear financial target against which we expect to be measured,” he added.
On his part, the Chairman of the ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said the aim of the collaboration which will have a preventive effect on corruption, is to assist government achieve its income expectations and economic agenda for Nigerians.
“Some of the things that the AuGF’s reports have disclosed are some of the things that we have taken enforcement measures on. We decided that given the size, experience, knowledge and (geographical) spread of the OAuGF, it would be very strategic to collaborate with them in order to do more with less,” Owasanoye said.
Preparatory to the MoU signing, staff from both organisations have undergone training in January 2020, and reports from the first stage of this partnership are expected in May.
