By Sururat Odusanya, 

Auditors in the Civil Service have been described as watchdogs of government finances and operations, promoters of good governance with the innate encouragement of efficient use of resources as well as adherence to regulations.

This assertion was made by the State Auditor General, Mr. Lateef Balogun, while declaring open, a 2-day In-house training for the State Auditors at the agency’s Conference Room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, saying, Auditors are change agents who helped in facilitating efficient use of government funds.

He said that the duties of Auditors also included the evaluation of internal control by assessing the system to prevent fraud, waste or mismanagement, report findings, highlighting issues, recommending improvement and promoting accountability, advising  staffers to cultivate fully the act of integrity, adaptability and excellence and also pay attention to their mental health in order to remain productive.

One of the resource persons, Permanent Secretary Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), Mr. Jola Oyeneye, who presented a paper on " Auditors are Natural Change Agents’’ said, Auditors occupy a  unique position of gate keeping the spending of government, hence, they should  be driven with clarity of purpose, be independent and adept to details.

An Health specialist, and a family consultant from the State Hospital, Ijaye, Dr. Adefisayo Otunaya, was also on ground to talk about mental Awareness and Stress Management explained, disorder as a common phenomenon all over the world that affects the health of all human, irrespective of the age, sex, profession, socioeconomic class or race, hence, they should monitor their health status regularly.

Also, presenting a paper on “Audit Guide’’,Director of Government Account in the Office of the Auditor General (State), Mr. Mofeoluwa Adeliyi, stated that government at various levels would allocate funds to different sectors of the economy for different  programmes and activities, saying,  these funds had been budgeted and approved by the sub -head, therefore, no money should  be spent unless it is from the budgetry provision.

Contributing to the discourse, Director of Fire Services, Engr. Fatai Adefala, presented a paper on "Fire Safety and Emergency Response’’, said, when a fire outbreak occurs, emergency  action is the immediate coordinate response that should be taken in managing the fire outbreak which should be done through planning, resource mobilisation, rescue, medical aids and clear communication.

He pointed out that in case of such eventuality, people should raise alarm, leave the building with the nearest available exit, while they should avoid stampede and put a call across to the Fire Service department.

Responding, two of the participants, Mr. Olajide Oyediran and Mrs. Deborah Olabode appreciated the State government for the opportunity, promising to put into total usage, knowledge acquired for the optimal discharge of their duties.