USAID trains civil servants on fraud detection

The United States Agency for International Development, Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness, has trained civil servants in the Adamawa State’s Internal Control Manual and Self-Assessment Tool on how to detect fraud.

The event, a three-day workshop, was held in Gombe and attracted many participants in the ministries.

In her address, the State Team Lead, USAID, Suzanne Myada, said public financial management, internal control remained a crucial aspect to guide against fraud.

She noted, “No matter how good the processes and systems are, if there are no established systems of internal control, then you will be vulnerable and subjected to different forms of fraud and abuse.

“That is why in State2State we are supporting Adamawa State to come up with an internal control manual that will help different MDAs, especially Public Financial Management institutions to identify their risks and develop systems and processes that will help them address the risks.”

She added that,  “We have been working with offices of state Auditor General, Auditor General for Local Government and other Public Financial Management institutions. In the past few years we have supported Adamawa State to develop its first performance audit manual, supported the state to review its external audit manual and now, we are supporting the state to develop its internal control manual and self-assessment tools.

“This places Adamawa among the league of a few states in Nigeria that have internal control manuals with this support and tool we expect that our auditors and other state officials will be able to do their work more effectively in terms of audit, introducing other forms of control that will promote accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in our MDAs.

“One important thing I want to further emphasise is that you should take ownership of this reform. State2State as an activity, we are going to leave, but you are the ones that will remain. The MDAs will remain. You must take ownership of this process and ensure its sustainability.”

On of the consultant, Ismail Adeleye, who took participants through an introduction and highlights of the internal control manual, objectives, scope and introduction to the component, control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, monitoring and evaluation noted that part of his responsibility would be to help participants carry out first assessment.

Adeleye maintained, “As you all know, speed without control normally results in an accident. The essence of this workshop is to have the internal control system when codified along with other financial management documents and records that have been provided, like the financial management instruction, including audit management.

“The expectation is that with all the support in the PFM area; the time everyone knows what to do, along with laws set by the government where public procurement law, whether you call it fiscal responsibility law. Why we keep having problems is that people tend to boycott, bypass, disregard some of these controls.”

The Assistant Director, Government Accounts, Adamawa State Auditor General’s office, Daniel Sakiyo, clarified that the training would encourage best practices.

He said, “By developing this manual, the MDAs will be better positioned to meet their organisational goals. We have learnt about internal control mechanisms and procedures that will help prevent leakages, ensuring cost-effectiveness. Ultimately, this will benefit Adamawa State as a whole."

The Director of Treasury in Adamawa in the Accountant General’s office, Isa Mustapha, lauded the organisers for the training.