National Economic council investigative committee on the audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation says it would engage the services of two international Audit firms to carry out audits on not only the NNPC but also all revenue generating agencies.
According to VON, members of the Committee comprising of Governors of Edo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom and Gombe States say the plan to engage the services of the auditors is to ensure professionalism and debunk allegations of political undertones in the investigation process.
Addressing the media in Abuja yesterday, the chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) adhoc committee on the management of Excess Crude Account Proceeds and Accruals into the Federation Account, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, said the audit will be a holistic one that will unravel the secrecy that had trailed accountability in revenue collection.
“Given our mandate, even if we are professional accountants, because we are sitting governors, we do not have the time to do the kind of forensic auditing which this assignment entails. Therefore, we have agree to appoint two international reputable auditing firms,” he said.
He said the audit will cover a five-year circle beginning from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2015 but could be extended if need be.
Oshiomhole, who addressed the media alongside governors of Kaduna, Gombe and Akwa Ibom States, said the forensic audit initially carried out on the NNPC on missing funds that had to be remitted into the Federation Account was marred by secrecy.
He said the committee would work with revenue generating agencies to open its books to the audit firms as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will not condone official secrecy in whatever form.
Speaking on the sideline of the media briefing, Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai said the move to engage the audit firms was arrived at in order to uncover massive corruption in the revenue collection process.
He expressed optimism that Nigerians will have all their questions answered by the time the audit is completed.
Posted by Janice Johnson
