- Charges them on integrity, transparency
THE Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Internal Audit, Mr Abayomi Oluyomi, has described auditors as a bridge between the government and the governed. As such, their job is vital in the scheme of things.
He stated this during a one-day training in Alausa, Ikeja for the state auditors.
Oluyomi said if a project is executed by the government, it is the job of the auditors to ensure that there was overpayment.
He said it was for this that since the inception of the administration the government placed emphasis on the continuous training of auditors, adding that “Auditing in the 21st Century requires knowledge, skill, and all the quotients needed” for them to excel.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Internal Audit, Mrs. Kikelomo Dauda, said the “auditors are the cornerstone of the public sector, an essential part of governance, the ears and eyes of government, hence the need for them to be equipped with appropriate work ethics to execute their duties without fear or favour.”
There is a need to constantly expose them to the latest trends in auditing while also providing a platform for knowledge and experience sharing, she added.
Mrs Dawodu described the theme of the training “Auditing as the Cornerstone in Public service” as apt and timely, as it brought to the fore the special position which auditing occupies in the public service.
She advised them to free themselves from undue interference to perform their duties optimally.
“By maintaining your independence, an internal auditor can perform his or her assessments objectively, providing management with unbiased criticism of governance processes, risk management, and internal control.
“Be reminded that the overall objective of audit in the Public sector is to strengthen the accountability, integrity, and the transparency of government and public sector institutions.
“One of the ways through which you can succeed in this profession is to lead by example and independently carry out your duties effectively. As auditors, you must maintain professional judgment and take proactive steps in your Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by insisting on standard procedures,” she added.