Senate Seeks more power for Auditor-General

Desmond Utomwen/Abuja

A Bill for the establishment of the Office of the Auditor-General for the federation, Audit service Commission, Additional Powers and functions and for matters connected there with 2012 has scaled second reading in the Senate.

Presenting the bill on the floor of the Senate in Abuja today, Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ahmed Lawan said the bill seeks to set the operational procedure and grant additional powers to the Auditor-General for the federation, vest the responsibility of recruitment, promotion and discipline of staff of the Office of the Auditor-General for the federation, among others.

Lawan noted that the Bill’s financial implication is minimal as the basic office structure of Office of the Auditor-General for the federation is in existence and members of the proposed Audit service Commission would be engaged on a part-time basis.

He also pointed out that the crusade against corruption in the Country would continue to be a mirage if the only constitutionally recognised office, charged with the powers to audit public account and Courts of the federation including all offices is not empowered to discharge its mandate.

The Senate, at the end of the consideration referred the Bill to the Committee on Constitutional Amendment for further legislative actions.