Rep petitions Tinubu, alleges crisis in auditor general’s office

Forum 8 months ago

Rep petitions Tinubu, alleges crisis in auditor general’s office

A member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged constitutional violations in the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation with the appointment of a substantive Auditor General for the Federation.

Oke, who represents Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, also accused the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, of glossing over the provisions of the civil service rules by appointing a junior director to oversee the OAUGF.

In a petition to the President dated May 31, 2023, with reference to HR/PAC/SC05/9NASS/66/206, the former Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, alleged that the Head of Service of the Federation violated the constitutional provision that no one should hold a public office in an acting capacity for more than six months.

According to him, the situation in the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation has affected the transmission of many annual audited reports of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Federal Government to the National Assembly because the acting Auditor General lacks the power to sign such reports.

He also noted that the development has hindered the Public Accounts Committee from performing some of its core duties.

The petition partly read, “The position of the Auditor-General for the Federation became vacant on September 7, 2022, after the retirement of the then substantive Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr Aghughu Adolphus.

“Contrary to the custom within the public service, which is that the most senior official is required to assume the role of head of the institution in an acting capacity, the number three director (Mr Andrew Onwudili) with less than two years to serve was imposed on the office and designated as the ‘Director Overseeing the Office’ by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

“This practically upturned the seniority nominal roll of the office and created severe animosity and apathy within the office.

“However, the director overseeing the office has acted beyond the required six months, which is a gross violation of the constitution.

“The implication of this is that actions taken by him are both illegal and unconstitutional.”

Oke appealed for Tinubu’s intervention “to preserve the sanctity of and the amity within the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.”