Address by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR At the Commissioning of the Head Office Complex of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation Tuesday 25th February, 2014

PROTOCOLS

I am greatly pleased to share in this special moment with you, to commission the Head Office, of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of our country.

The building we are commissioning today is a vision that had been long in coming. From its days in colonial era, when this office was known as the Federal Audit Department, its significance as the principal fiscal regulation and national accountability institution has remained unchallenged.

The journey to the present has not been an easy one for the Auditor-General’s Office. Since the office was relocated to Abuja, it had occupied a rented residential building, a situation not only unfavourable to the security and importance of the work of the Auditor General, but also not befitting its image. Aware of these constraints,

I expeditiously granted the approval for the acquisition of this building, when a request by the Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was made to me. My prompt attention to the request stemmed from my firm belief that the Auditor-General’s office need a conducive working environment to discharge the important work you do for our great country Nigeria.

I am extremely delighted that the National Assembly has deemed it necessary to underline the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation by commencing the consideration of the Audit Bill and the relevant Constitutional amendments that will further strengthen this institution for the good of our country.

An effective and efficient Auditor-General’s office will not only guarantee greater accountability, but will ensure that our fight against corruption is won. I commend the Auditor General of the Federation for the successful realisation of this project in this important year of our Centenary.

Let me also commend your staff capacity development initiatives, and the efforts to re-organise the office and modernise your mode of operations. I would like to assure you that government will do everything possible, within the ambit of the law, and available resources to support you to succeed.

It is now my pleasure to formally commission the new headquarters complex of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to enhance good governance and promote accountability for the good of our country.

I thank you.