Auditor General expresses willingness to continue partnership with World Bank

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Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine and Director, Governance, World Bank, Dr. Edward Olowo-okere
Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine and Director, Governance, World Bank, Dr. Edward Olowo-okere

ABUJA (OAuGF’ Report)- The Auditor General for the Federation (AuGF) Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine has expressed the willingness of the Office of the Auditor – General for the Federation (OAuGF) to continue to collaborate and partner with the World Bank (WB) in other to make the necessary impact in its quest to deliver on its mandate as the foremost accountability institution in the country.

Mr. Ayine made this pronouncement when the world bank financial management regional director and director, governance global practice, Dr. Edward Olowokere paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja.

The Auditor General enumerated and appreciated past supports to the OAuGF by World Bank during the Economic Reforms Governance Programme (ERGP). The supports include the execution of LAN and WAN projects for the office which made the data centre a reality capacity training of staff, execution of the E – library project and the preparation of Strategic Plan for 2013 – 2017.

He said, “The OAuGF is carrying out some reforms aimed at improving and modernizing its working tools and audit methodology to help it deliver on its mandate in line with international best practices”.

The Auditor General stated that the non passage of the Audit – Bill is a major impediment that is hampering the administrative and financial autonomy of the office. He also highlighted other challenges of the office. They include inadequate funding, non consideration of Auditor – General’s report at plenary, lack of audit tools and lack of ICT and IT audit skills.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the World Bank delegation Dr. Edward D. Olowo okere intimated the AuGF of the willingness and readiness of the World Bank to continue to support the OAuGF in its reforms efforts. He said the purpose of the visit is to understand the direction of the office in its quest to improve on its service delivery and know where the office would like the World Bank to render support and assistance.