Bauchi State House of Assembly Speaker, Abubakar Sulaiman
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Public Accounts on the screening exercise in respect of the nomination of Sagir Abdullahi Muhammad as State Auditor General, thereby confirming his nomination.
The adoption followed the submission of the Report by the House Committee on Public Accounts on the screening exercise in respect of the appointment of Sagir Abdullahi Muhammad as State Auditor General which was laid by the Chairman of the Committee, Jamilu Umaru Dahiru representing Bauchi Central Constituency.
According to the report, the Committee considered the Public Sector Audit Law vis-a-vis the provision for the appointment of the Auditor General, invited the Civil Service Commission on how best they conducted the interview and invited the nominee in order to ascertain the level of his preparedness to hold the important office.
The Committee explained that it had received a plea from the staff of the Office of the Auditor General on the need to to consider audit staff in appointing Auditor General.
They argued that the role and responsibilities of the Office are unique and therefore require trained, experienced and professional Auditor to manage, hence the need to give more consideration to audit staff.
The plea will not be unconnected with the fact that the Nominee is originally staff of the Treasury.
However, the Committee observed that the Law made mention of a qualified Accountant with full membership of professional accountancy body and it also provides for the advertisement of the position by the Civil Service Commission which by extension invites even the outsiders to apply.
It added that, one must not be an Audit Staff before he becomes equipped, and well trained with vast experience in auditing.
The Committee explained that the Nominee was interviewed by the Civil Service Commission, a body of technocrats and passed, it also invited him and he responded to various questions which explained how he will bring positive impact to the Office to the satisfaction of all Honourable Members of the Committee.
The Committee therefore recommended that Sagir Abdullahi Muhammad should be confirmed as the State Auditor General
Kawuwa Shehu Damina observed that the Auditor General is like a Policeman who checkmates the Treasury and all other offices, hence if someone is brought from the Treasury other than Audit, there will be no proper check and balances as required by the Office.
He advised that the Law should be properly followed in appointing Auditor General by Advertising the position for most qualified professionals to apply and the best be selected Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo representing Chiroma Constituency concurres with Kawuwa Shehu Damina
