The Senate has formally requested the immediate selection of an Auditor General for the Federation, in accordance with Section 86 of the 1999 Constitution.

The communication addressed to President Bola Tinubu, bearing the signature of Senator Aliyu Wadada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, conveyed the urgency of filling this critical role.

Highlighting their concerns, the Senate noted that the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, the nation’s highest audit institution, has remained without a substantive auditor-general for the past 10 months.

The absence of this key figure is expected to hamper the rigorous adherence to Accounting Standards and the timely submission of Annual Reports for the scrutiny of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The letter emphasized that the situation could hinder vital checks and balances necessary for the effectiveness of National Assembly Committees tasked with overseeing Public Accounts.

The Senate underscored that President Tinubu’s prompt action is essential to uphold transparency, accountability, and the government’s anti-corruption endeavors.

By appointing a qualified and substantive auditor-general, the Senate believes that the federal government would reinforce its commitment to fiscal responsibility and the protection of public confidence.

Additionally, the non-transmission of audit reports for 2020, 2021, and 2022, as mandated by Section 85 (2) of the Constitution, is attributed to the absence of an auditor-general.