Auditor-Gen. fails to publish 2020 report

• Published date: 16 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

In spite of the constitutional provision, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation is yet to publish the Audited Accounts of the Federal Government (AuGF) for 2020 and 2021.

Checks by The Nation at the weekend revealed that attributed the breach to the secret struggle among senior officers for who becomes the next AuGF, following the retirement of Adolphus Aghughu in September 2022.

Section 85(5) of the 1999 Constitution mandates agencies of government to submit their audited reports to the Office of the AuGF not later than May 31 every year.

The section reads: 'The Auditor-General shall, within 90 days of receipt of the Accountant-General's financial statement, submit his reports under this section to each House of the National Assembly and each House shall cause the reports to be considered by a committee of the House of the National Assembly responsible for public accounts.'

However, checks by The Nation at the weekend showed that while the 2019 audit report on the consolidated revenue for the government was submitted to the National Assembly in September 2022, there was no indication that the 2020 and 2021 audited accounts were submitted to the lawmakers.

A source in the AuGF, who did not want his name in print, said: 'As you are...