Adeleke urges transparency in public governance

Federal and state Auditors-General have been urged to help in building more accountable and transparent administrations for the benefit of Nigerians.

The call was made by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke in Ede, on Monday, at the opening session of the 53rd biannual conference organised by the Office of the Auditor-General, Osun State, in collaboration with the Body of Federal and State Auditors-General, Nigeria.

In attendance were the Auditors-General of states across the federation.

Represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, Adeleke urged the participants to take advantage of the conference to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative ideas that would further enhance the effectiveness of audit processes in the country.

The governor assured participants of the unwavering determination of his administration to empower the Office of the Auditor-General in the state to carry out its statutory duties independently and effectively.

“Your presence here underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and open governance in our beloved nation. As the governor of Osun State, I stand before you with a firm commitment to these principles.

“Our government believes that transparency and accountability are not just buzzwords but essential pillars upon which good governance stands. We understand that fostering an environment of openness is crucial for building trust between government and citizens.

“In Osun State, we are committed to providing the necessary resources and support to enable the Auditor-General’s office to function autonomously and with the highest level of professionalism.

“We believe in upholding the integrity of our financial systems and institutions, and we recognise that this begins with a strong and independent audit function,” he said.

In his speech, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, represented by the Director of Audit, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Dr Busayo Fawale, declared that his office was ready to collaborate with Auditors-General of other tiers of government for more efficient service delivery.