SENATE SLAMS FG FOR UNDERFUNDING OAGF
nassnewsng.com
Omoboye Adeboye
Senate has called for adequate funding of the Office of Auditor General of the Federation (OAGF).
The Chairman Senate Committee on Public, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South) made the call yesterday in Abuja when Auditor General of the Federation, Anthony Ayine appeared before the committee for a budget defence.
Urhoghide said it would be difficult for the government to achieve results in its fight against corruption when the Auditor General, tasked with preventing sleaze, is underfunded.
“I wondered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has a whopping N22 billion in 2019 budget while the Auditor General’s Office has just N3 billion. I don’t think they (executive) believe in this office, else they will not be underfunding it every year. If this administration really wants to achieve much in transparency and probity of public funds, it is better to invest in stopping corruption instead of fighting it,” he said.
Urhoghide appealed to Buhari to sign into law the Federal Audit Bill, to give greater backing to the fight against corruption.
According to him, “When the bill is passed into law, the auditor-general shall be vested with additional powers to inquire into, examine, investigate and report as he considers necessary on the expenditure of public monies and money advanced or granted to a private organisation or body in which the Federal Government has controlling interest,” he said
The Auditor General, Mr. Anthony Ayine while speaking with nassnews after his budget defence, called for adequate funding of the agency to enable it carry out its duties and functions effectively. Adding that the office is grossly underfunded