By Lucy Ogalue

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr Shaakaa Chira, on Wednesday, said that strategic collaboration among stakeholders was critical to enhancing accountability and winning the war against corruption in Nigeria.

Chira said this at a One-day Strategic Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing institutional partnerships, enhancing operational transparency, and ensuring that audit outcomes lead to tangible reforms.

“Supreme Audit Institutions do not operate in a vacuum. We work with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to advance the cause of accountability.

“This event marks another important chapter in the reforms trajectory of the Office. As the foremost anti-corruption institution in Nigeria, the OAuGF can only succeed with the support of its stakeholders,” he said.

He said that understanding stakeholder needs and fostering consistent communication would position the OAuGF as a model institution in public sector audit and reform.

He recalled the inauguration of the OAuGF Stakeholder Engagement Strategy 2025–2028, developed with support from the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Development Initiative (IDI).

According to him, the strategy identifies 12 critical groups whose roles are pivotal to the success of the Office.

“These include the National Assembly, the Executive, Judiciary, MDAs, civil society organisations, professional bodies, development partners, and the general public.

“The engagement is designed to capture stakeholders’ expectations and perceptions, which will help reshape institutional thinking and inform future actions.

“The views and feedback from this session will guide us in refining our processes and building a model Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) for others to emulate,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr George Phiri, Senior Manager at the INTOSAI Development Initiative, described stakeholder engagement as a strategic imperative, not a mere communications exercise.

“The effectiveness of an SAI is not only about the quality of its reports but also how well it engages with actors in the accountability circle,” Phiri said.

He expressed confidence that the strategy would enhance collaboration with civil society, media, and oversight bodies to improve public financial management.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, commended the OAuGF’s efforts and pledged continued collaboration.

Edun was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mr Raymond Omachi.

“Our shared responsibility compels us to strengthen institutional alignment for better governance.

“The Auditor-General’s work provides a compass for informed fiscal decisions,” the minister said.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamsedeen Ogunjimi, pledged commitment in working with the Office and other public sector institutions to build a more responsive, efficient, and accountable public financial management system.

“Going forward, we must institutionalise mechanisms for regular stakeholder dialogue, ensure timely publication of audit reports, and develop platforms for monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations.

“We must continually invest in the training of our auditors and accountants to enhance their ability to engage meaningfully with stakeholders and uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalim.

“Let us reaffirm our collective resolve to strengthen public sector auditing through proactive stakeholder engagement.

” Together, we can ensure that public resources are used effectively, and that the goals of national development are achieved to deliver renewed hope for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Ogunjimi said.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), commended the AuGF for championing stakeholder cooperation.

The ICPC, represented by the Deputy Director and Head of Internal Audit, Mr Ambrose Songo, urged the OAuGF to do more in the fight against corruption in the country.

“We can not win the anti-corruption war alone. The synergy we build here today is the backbone of sustainable integrity in public finance,” he said.

Dr Rabiu Olowo, Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), lauded the OAuGF for pushing transparency and financial reporting compliance among MDAs.

Olowo stressed the need for continued collaboration with the Auditor-General’s office to strengthen international public sector accounting standards.

The workshop brought together top officials from various oversight institutions, civil society groups, and development partners, who all expressed their support for the reform agenda of the OAuGF. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman