Accountant-General Demands Sanctions For Infractions Raised In Audit Reports

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, has called for the urgent enforcement of audit sanctions and an end to the culture of impunity in Nigeria’s public finance system.

He emphasized that fiscal inefficiency and weak accountability mechanisms threaten the nation’s development goals and must be addressed through decisive reforms, including timely audits, real-time monitoring, and the deployment of digital technologies.

Speaking on Tuesday at the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance in Abuja, themed “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development”, Ogunjimi said Nigeria can no longer afford the economic cost of misused public funds and delayed financial reporting.

“We must also rethink the core tone of impunity. Audit reports should not gather dust in legislative chambers. They should trigger action, reforms and, where necessary, sanctions,” Ogunjimi declared.

The accountant-general warned that without enforcement of audit recommendations and timely fiscal reporting, inefficiencies will persist, ultimately depriving citizens of critical services like education, healthcare, and security.

“Every naira we misuse is denied to public schools, hospitals, security, and other essential services. Now, more than ever, the nexus between fiscal governance and national development is clear in our policy choices,” he said.

He emphasized that public financial management must move beyond post-event auditing to embrace preventive controls and digital systems that enable real-time accountability. According to him, “Our mission must be clear. In a Nigeria where public funds are not only accounted for but also used efficiently to meet the needs of the people, the future will seek courage — courage to pressure, reform and act.”

Ogunjimi underscored the role of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees as constitutional watchdogs, critical to ensuring fiscal discipline and transparency in the use of public resources. He called for reforms to strengthen these committees and empower audit institutions to act swiftly and effectively.

“Fiscal accountability is a shared responsibility. It requires a robust collaboration between the executive, the legislature, the auditor-general, the civil society, the media, and the citizens,” he noted.

To address current inefficiencies, Ogunjimi recommended several action points including the timely publication of audited accounts by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), full implementation of auditor-general’s recommendations, adequate funding for audit institutions, and digital tools to reduce manual interference in audit processes.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to upholding the principles of prudence, transparency, and timely financial reporting in line with international best practices.

Also speaking at the conference, the Auditor-General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with rising public debt, inflation, revenue shortfalls, and growing demands for accountable governance.

Chira said these complex challenges underscore the urgency of strengthening fiscal governance frameworks.

“The theme of this conference speaks directly to the core of the nation — the health of the economy and the hopes of millions of Nigerians who desire transparent and accountable governance,” Chira stated.

Both officials stressed that institutional capacity must be reinforced to drive fiscal reforms, ensure value for money, and guarantee that the use of public funds reflects national values of integrity, service, and equity.