General News
THE Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, has charged internal auditors of the scheme to lead the initiative to instill a culture of accountability in the scheme.
He said this on Monday, in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the NYSC Internal Auditors’ workshop.
The workshop has, “Enhancing, Efficiency and Effectiveness of Financial Operations in the Internal Control System-the Role of the Internal Auditor” as theme.
Ahmed, who was represented by the Director of Procurement, Mr Chris Jimba, also urged them to ensure that the scheme’s financial practices adhered to the highest ethical and compliance standards.
He also said that it was crucial to reinforce the scheme’s internal financial control systems to avoid financial losses.
According to him, a weak internal control system can lead to severe consequences, including mismanagement of funds and financial losses due to lack of accountability.
“Such negative outcomes can hinder the progress of the scheme, damage its credibility and erode public trust.
“Therefore, it is crucial that we reinforce our internal financial control systems, and be steadfast in safeguarding the resources of the scheme.
“Moreover, by enhancing our financial controls, we are not only meeting regulatory requirements, but also advancing good governance.”
He told the auditors that their role was critical to ensuring financial integrity and efficiency within the scheme.
Ahmed added that it was essential for them to continue to develop and demonstrate their capacity to assess risks, identify weaknesses, and recommend corrective actions.
The Acting Director, Internal Audit, Mr Levi Agim, said that because of the role internal auditors play in the scheme, it was essential that their competence was periodically updated for optimal discharge of their responsibilities.
According to him, internal control is not just a set of procedures, but a critical component in financial operations as it ensures, among others, that all monies spent are accounted for and every initiative properly funded.
“In this wise, it is imperative that we strengthen the internal control system of the scheme in order to safeguard our financial resources.
“This workshop is a stepping stone towards that goal.”
Mr Temitayo Adeyemo, who spoke on behalf of the scheme’s external auditors, said that in a world where fiscal integrity was paramount, internal auditors in all sense of it were not just watchdogs, but the custodians of trust in public institutions.
“Your work as internal auditors of the scheme is to safeguard public trust and ensure that every Naira and Kobo is accounted for and that public resources are utilised as designed.
“Internal auditors are the first line of defense against fraud.
“We have faced unprecedented challenges and it is crucial that we are not only prepared but empowered to turn these challenges into opportunities.”
He, however, said that the theme of the workshop was a call to action for every internal auditor and to sharpen their skills. (NAN)
Photo Caption: Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed
23rd September, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed NYSC
