Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting auditors-general, acknowledging they play crucial roles in ensuring effective governance and driving national development.
Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, while receiving the Leadership of the Body of Federal and States Auditors-General on a courtesy visit, led by the Chairman, Body of Federal and States Auditors-General/ Auditor-General of Ondo State, Sir Sunday Omoniyi Adegoke, held at the office of the Deputy Governor, Alausa Ikeja, on Thursday, the Governor stated that it is important for state governments to take the audit sector seriously to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective governance in their respective States and the nation in general.
According to the Governor, “We are very happy to host you. And the reason is that we understand that the job you do is very important. A lot of people see auditors as bad cops, but in Lagos, we don’t. We know that it doesn’t matter how good your intentions are, one can make mistakes, and therefore we must listen to our auditors, so that when we make mistakes, we are corrected by them.”
Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu noted that Lagos State takes the state audit sector very seriously, recognizing that auditors are the gatekeepers of public resources. He stressed that effective auditing is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance, which are essential for driving development and delivering results to citizens.
He reiterated that auditor support is vital for progress, emphasising that transparency and accountability are key to good governance. He added that by embracing audit recommendations, governments can build trust with citizens and drive development.
The Governor urged other states in the federation to see auditors as an important component of governance, while he urged auditors to be bold and persistent in their dealings. He cited that in Lagos, the government supports the Audit.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Body of Federal and States Auditors-General/ Ondo State Auditors-General, Sir Sunday Omoniyi Adegoke, stated that the conference provided a platform for auditors to engage with industry leaders, sharing experiences and discussing critical issues related to accountability in the country.
He noted that the purpose of the visit was to express gratitude to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for hosting the 54th Bi- Annual Conference of the body.
According to Adegoke, “We want to appreciate you for hosting us well, because the kind of arrangement that was put in place for the hosting of this year’s conference is one of its kind. We have seen this and we have said it over and over again, it can only be Lagos.”
