Auditor-General Raises Alarm Over Weak Financial Controls in Government Agencies

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Dr. Shaakaa Chira, has expressed concern over persistent weaknesses in accountability and financial management across government institutions, warning that weak internal controls, capacity gaps and poor compliance with regulations continue to undermine transparency in the public sector.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Chira identified weak accountability structures as one of the major obstacles to effective financial oversight in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

According to him, several government institutions still struggle with inadequate internal control systems, delayed responses to audit observations and insufficient appreciation of the importance of compliance with financial regulations.

“One of the major challenges is the persistence of weak internal control systems in some public institutions. In certain cases, there are also capacity gaps, delays in responding to audit observations and inadequate appreciation of the importance of compliance with established regulations,” he said.

The Auditor-General noted that the sheer scale of government operations compared to available oversight resources has further complicated efforts to ensure accountability and prudent management of public funds.

Despite these challenges, he said the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) continues to engage MDAs, provide professional guidance and advocate stronger accountability measures to improve compliance and safeguard public resources.

Chira disclosed that since assuming office, the OAuGF has intensified efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity through auditor training, improved forensic audit capabilities and compliance with international auditing standards.

He added that the office is implementing its Strategic Plan 2024–2028, aimed at enhancing audit quality, institutional effectiveness and accountability in public resource management.

The Auditor-General also highlighted the growing role of technology in public sector auditing, noting that the office has adopted digital audit tools, data analytics and modern auditing techniques to improve efficiency and detect financial irregularities more effectively.

According to him, technology enables auditors to analyse large volumes of data, identify unusual patterns and uncover potential risks faster than traditional methods.

Chira further stressed that transparency remains critical to rebuilding public confidence in government financial management. He said the office remains committed to publishing audit reports and making findings accessible to citizens through appropriate channels.

He added that efforts are ongoing to improve stakeholder engagement and public communication so that audit findings can be better understood by ordinary Nigerians.