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… Asks Buhari to Assent to Federal Audit Bill
By Paul Williams, Abuja
The chairman, Senate Committee on Media, Adedayo Adeyeye, has denied knowledge of an alleged involvement of the Senate in secret recruitment in ministries, departments and agencies of government.
There had been reports in major newspapers of a brewing crisis in the Senate following alleged allocation of 100 employment slots in Federal Inland Revenue Service to the leadership of the Senate.
The news which was awash on the front pages of two national dailies stated that the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, took 24 slots for members of his constituency, while leaving the remaining 74 to the eight other principal officers of the Senate.
Reacting to the matter during the inaugural meeting of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Thursday, Adedaye Adeyeye said he was not aware of the development, adding that the committee will investigate the matter.
The chairman further assured the media that the ongoing 2020 budget defence is not shrouded in secrecy despite the fact that most of the 69 standing committees sit behind doors during their sessions
Meanwhile, the Senate on Committee Public Accounts has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to give assent to the Federal Audit Service Bill.
The bill passed in the 8th Senate, which seeks to empower the nation’s auditor-general to hold accountable and penalize government agencies and officials who refused to submit their financial statements for audit, is yet to be sign by the President.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Matthew Uhroghide said if the Federal Government is serious in its fight corruption, it must strengthen the office of auditor general of the federation.
Uhroghide said it had become unacceptable that year after year accounts of ministries and agencies remain unaudited, leaving room for wide scale corruption. He expressed hope that the 9th Senate will rework the bill and forward the same to President for assent.
Our correspondent reports that a presentation will be made on the need to increase the budget of the audit general of the federation, if they expect anything meaningful from the sector.
