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REP. IDEM MAKES A CASE IN THE BILL FOR AN ACT TO REPEAL AUDIT ORDINANCE OF 1956, ENACT FEDERAL AUDIT SERVICE ACT, 2023 TO ESTABLISH FEDERAL AUDIT.

The member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Hon. Unyime Idem has made a case in the bill for an act to repeal the Audit Ordinance of 1956 and enact the Federal Audit Service Act, 2023.

Idem, who is a member of the National Assembly Conference committee for the consideration of the bill, noted that the pre-independence audit law known as “The Audit Ordinance Act of 1956” and The Public Accounts Committee Act, CAP P35, LFN 2004,” as amended, did not give the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation enough leverage to function optimally.

He explained that ”The Bill, once assented to, will empower the Auditor-General to carry out audits of all revenues accruing to the federation, expenditures of the federation from all sources, donations, grants and loans accruable to the MDAs or other public entities.”

Unyime Idem was speaking after the Green Chamber received and considered the report of the Conference committee on a bill for an act to repeal the Audit Ordinance of 1956 and enact the Federal Audit Service Act, 2023, during Thursday’s plenary.

The Act will aid the establishment of the Federal Audit Service; provide additional powers and functions of the Auditor-General of the Federation, as well as the Federal Audit Board.

The Federal Audit Service Bill prescribes, among others, a five-year jail term for any accounting officer who prevents the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation from accessing their account books.

According to Unyime Idem, the Federal Service Audit Bill is very crucial to the prevention of misappropriation of public funds and to the fight against corruption.

“The Audit bill will bring accountability and probity in the finances of the government and the fight against corruption. This will go a long way in ensuring the independence of the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation,” the Ukanafun-born lawmaker averred.