From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) a UK-supported governance program has said citizens’ participation in audit processes of delivering public services and government programs will encourage transparency and accountability in the way government performs its functions.
The State Lead Facilitator, PERL, Mr Adejor Abel said this in his remarks during the opening of a
two-day Technical Session on Strengthening Citizens’ Participation in the Audit Process with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Office of the Auditor-General of State, and Local Governments in collaboration with the Civil Society-Legislature Engagement & Accountability Platform (CLEAP) held in Zaria yesterday
Abel who defined Participatory audit as a mechanism for citizens’ active participation in public oversight which directly involves citizens and civil society groups in the audit process, said the Engagement among stakeholders will be established through a consultative and collaborative approach.
He welcome members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly who are participating in the Session saying PERL supported the engagement to facilitate knowledge sharing and ensure that best practices are replicated.
In his presentation titled “Overview of Kaduna State Audit Law, 2021: Background, Provisions, Gaps, Opportunities and Recommendations” Yusuf Goje of Civil Society-Legislature Engagement & Accountability Platform (CLEAP) said Section 125 of the 1999 Constitution stated that there shall be an Auditor-General for each State who shall be appointed following the provisions of section 126 of this Constitution.
He added that the public accounts of a State and all offices and accounts of the State shall be audited by the Auditor-General for the State who shall submit his reports to the House of Assembly of the State concerned, and for that purpose, the Auditor-General or any person authorized by him on that behalf shall have access to all the books, records returns and. other documents relating to those accounts.
He explained that in Kaduna State, Audit Law, 2021 Provides for the Audit of Public Accounts of Kaduna State and for other Matters Connected.
Goje added that Section 17 of the same law established a Public Accounts Committee which shall be a Committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
