JK tells auditors: Don't bow to pressure from politicians

By Gadiosa Lamtey

President Jakaya Kikwete

President Jakaya Kikwete has urged the National Audit Office (NAO) to start learning from countries with experience in the extraction of natural gas so as to acquire audit skills needed when the projects become operational in the country.

President Kikwete said it was important for the staff to acquire the skills early so as to effectively execute their work.


He made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday at the official opening of a six-day Annual Auditors’ Conference whose theme is: “Strengthening the Independence for the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) for the enhancement of accountability resulting in fostering economic growth.”

The president said in the past the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) depended on the mining companies to provide him with reports, which showed that they were incurring losses, a situation which forced the government to hire an international auditing firm to audit them.

“We should not allow this to happen in the emerging natural gas sector. You are supposed to start learning from experienced countries such as Norway and Sweden to avoid such complaints raised in the mining sector,” he said.
Commenting on the conference, President Kikwete called upon the NAO staff to execute their work professionally and avoid working under pressure from politicians.

He also called upon the office of the CAG to continue to learn new skills and adapt to international auditing standards.

He said it was important for the CAG office to continue being independent when exercising its responsibilities as a way of ensuring the economy of the country is not tempered with.

For his part, the CAG, Ludovick Utouh, said the three first days of the six-day meeting will involve learning from 18 countries that have experience in auditing. The said countries will be making presentations on the subject, he said.

He said the last three days will only involve auditors in the country who will be discussing the profession in the local context.

According to the CAG, his office has not yet fully adopted the so called international standards as the staff were still learning the art. touh also said fake contracts are among the challenges that his office faces during auditing.

However, he said this has also been contributed by limited knowledge on the part of the auditors.
Apart from challenges of skill and knowledge, the CAG said procurement in public office is an area where huge embezzlements are done.

He said despite the law making the culprits accountable that came into existence some time in 2010, the malpractice has persisted.

Utouh said that the CAG office should be recognised as an institution that makes a difference to its citizens, being responsive to the changing environments and stakeholders expectations without compromising its independence. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN