The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Oyo, has described auditors as gate keepers of government institutions, thereby important stakeholder in the fight against corruption.
Mr Stephen Pimor, ICPC commissioner for Oyo and Ogun offices, stated this on Wednesday, while on a courtesy visit to the office of the Oyo State Auditor- General’s office at the State Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan.
Pimor said the visit was in furtherance of the collaboration between major stakeholders in the anti corruption fight; “of which
Auditor-General of Oyo state is a major stakeholder.
“It is the auditors that would be able to point to facts; if they see any irregularities especially in financial transactions, even in official documents, auditors should be able to spot it.
“If there is anything going wrong, it behoove on the auditors to be able to identify that have gone wrong and correct it.
“By doing so, the dividends of governance would be more accounted for by those it is entrusted to.
“When there is rampant corruption in government departments it means the auditors are not living up to their expectations.
“On corruption in the civil service; the commissioner said that the commission would prosecute erring civil servants that have overstayed in the sevice.
“The moment we get credible information about any civil servant that have spent their mandatory 35 years in service or reach the 60 years retirement age but still in service; we are going to work on it and make sure that everybody is giving his or her due.
“If anyone have served his or her tenure in the civil service of Oyo state as stipulated by law and we find out that such individual falsefied his or her age.
“Immediate action would be taken and charge such person to court if
it comes to the attention of the commission.” Pimor stated.
He specifically thanked the auditor general for his openness, integrity as a gatekeeper and described him as an eye of the government.
In his response, Mr Aweda Adewola, the state Auditor-General expressed appreciation to the ICPC team for the visit and promised to collaborate with the commission in its efforts to put a stop to corruption practices.
“I see ICPC as a sister body that we should work hand in hand to put a stop or reduce drastically level of corruption.
“Our main problem in Nigeria is corruption, but corruption is not only financial; even, before financial corruption is committed, you must have abuse your office.” Adewola said.
He further stated that Gov Seyi Makinde, had said that the Permanent Secretaries and Heads of non ministerial offices were the accounting officers in their respective MDAs.
“Which means that whatever happens in any MDAs the permanent secretaries or whoever heads such ministry would be accountable for it.
“With this the governor has given us power and woke us up that we should live up to expectation.
“My promise to ICPC is that any legitimate information they want from us in the course of any corruption investigation would be provided.” He said.
Among the ICPC team are Mrs Faustina Adeoluwa – Head of Legal team, Andrew Kunlere, Kunle Balogun, Dele Raji and Mrs Mayowa Olaniyan – Investigators.