From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The office of the Auditor General of Kaduna State is set to lay the groundwork for long-term collaboration on Citizen Participatory Audits in the State.
The State Auditors General Abubakar Abdullahi asserted this during a 3-Day Workshop on enhancing Accountability in Financial Human Capital Development Through Citizens ‘Participatory Auditing in Zaria today.
According to him, there has been a long-term relationship between the Civil Society Organisations CSOs in Kaduna State and the office of the Auditor General. The gathering will enhance the future of public financial management in the region.
He emphasized the importance of citizen engagement: “This workshop presents a tremendous opportunity for us to develop actionable strategies that aim at strengthening citizen participation in the audit process.
He acknowledged the key contributions of CSOs I, whose insights would be instrumental in enriching the discussions.
The Auditor General also highlighted the crucial role of CSOs in holding government institutions accountable, stating, “The partnership between my office and civil society organizations is not just beneficial; it is crucial in the PFM cycle. CSOs serve as the watchdogs of governance, ensuring public resources are managed effectively and transparently.”
Co-hosted by the Office of the Auditor General, the OGP
TWG on Open Budget, the Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism (KADLGAM), and the Coalition of Associations for Leadership Peace Empowerment and Development (CALPED) with support from Save the Children International (SCI ) through the Gates Anchor IV Grant, FCDO Funded Lafiya Program, FCDO Funded Partnership for Learning for All, and Society for Family Health SFH.
The workshop is to build on prior efforts to establish a participatory audit framework, fostering an
accountability culture in line with the Kaduna State Audit Law, 2021, the OGP State Action Plan III (SAP, )
The event focused on fostering a greater understanding of how CSOs can collaborate effectively in the audit process, with a particular emphasis on promoting transparency and accountability in public resource management.
Participants explored the vital role of both CSOs in the PFM cycle and discussed practical mechanisms for collaboration, including legal and institutional considerations.
In his presentation titled ‘Overview of Kaduna State Participatory Audit Framework a Policy and Citizens Initiative advocate Mr. Adejor Abel explained that Kaduna State Audit Law, 2021, section 21(3) mandates the Office of the Auditor General to publish audit reports online in hard and soft copies for citizens to engage and participate in the audit process.
This, according to him, allows citizens to raise audit alarms in cases of suspicious and fraudulent payment vouchers.
“Likewise, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) State Action Plan (SAP III, 2024-2025) commitment to strengthening the participatory budget process has two milestones towards developing a participatory audit framework and timely upload and implementation of audit recommendations.
“Having a participatory framework will increase citizens’ participation in the audit process and value for money.”
