Audit: Nasarawa Assembly vows to sanction defaulting MDAs

Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts has vowed to sanction any Ministry, Department, Agency or Local Government that fails to respond to its auditing report or query from the Office of the Auditor-General.

This, the committee said, was to ensure transparency and accountability in governance as well as ensure discipline in the system.

Mr Solomon Akwashiki, the Chairman of the committee stated this when the office of the Auditor General for Local Government appeared before it on its 2024 budget performance on Monday in Lafia.

Akwashiki warned that MDAs and LG must respond to reports or queries emanating or submitted by the office of the Auditor General for Local Government.

“Anyone who fails to do that will face the wrath of the law,” he said.

He said that the oversight was to know their budget performance for the first quarter.

”The importance of your office to ensure transparency and accountability cannot be overemphasized

”We will query any MDA or LGA that fails to respond to any report from the office of the Auditor- General for Local Government.

”If the office of the Auditor General for Local Government seeks for clarification from any MDA or LG, the should comply,” Akwashiki said.

He said the committee was ever ready to support the activities of the Auditor General office to succeed.

Earlier, Mr Idris Danladi, the Auditor-General for Local Government appreciated the committee for the support his office was enjoying from it and called for its sustenance.

He also appreciated the state government for funding the office.

The auditor-general restated his commitment to ensure transparency and accountability in governance through auditing financial accounts as required by the extant laws.

Also appearing before the committee was the Nasarawa State Civil Service Commission.

Akwashiki said that the house would ensure that employment and other activities of the civil service were based on the enabling rules and regulations.

He assured of the committee’s determination to support the commission to succeed.

Earlier, Mr Olugbo Joel, Commissioner One, Civil Service Commission, thanked the committee and the state government for giving their attention to their activities to succeed.

He assured of their commitment to ensure that civil service rules and regulations were followed in the interest of peace and for the overall development of the state.

Also appearing before the committee was the management of Nasarawa State Human Development Capital Agency led by its Director- General, Habiba Balarabe.

Akwashiki assured of the committee’s commitment and support to the agency to succeed.

”We will partner and collaborate with you for the overall development of the state,” he said.

Earlier, the Director-General of the agency, appreciated the committee and the state government for the support the agency is enjoying from them.