‘Poorly paid auditors can’t detect fraud in public accounts’

‘Public Account Fraud can't be detected by Poorly paid auditors

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Wole Oke, has decried the poor remuneration of officials at the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

Oke said it would amount to self-deceit to expect poorly remunerated auditors to detect fraud in public corporations, which earned several billions of naira.

He said this in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan on the sidelines of the national workshop on audit queries series II, PAC technology innovation and MDAs’ compliance initiative.

The PAC chairman said, “The officials at the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation are poorly paid and you ask them to audit agencies that earn billions; they could compromise themselves.

“So, the way out of it is to consider the audit bill that we are working on so that they can earn a living wage. With a living wage an average, feeding, accommodation, transport, healthcare bills and school fess will be taken care of conveniently. If this is done, an average person will be content and will do the job better. That has been taken care of in the bill.

“It will take a special grace of God for any poorly paid auditor to detect fraud in such accounts because such auditor could be easily compromised.”

‘Public Account Fraud can't be detected by Poorly paid auditors
Public Accounts Fraud can’t be detected by Poorly paid auditors

Oke had earlier in the lecture he delivered said so many MDAs refused to render accounts in 2016, saying the lawmakers were worried because of this.

He, however, added that things had greatly improved now as many of them had started complying.

“So many MDAs defaulted but because of the intervention, we now have a higher percentage of rendition.

“In 2019, 2020 reports, it will be difficult to see MDA that has not rendered account. This is 9th Assembly so you can begin to measure from 2020,” he added.

PUNCH

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