According to media representatives, audit reports are mandatory on all levels of government because they are produced by and for the governments. By reporting on these statutory audit reports, the media can strengthen public accountability and ensure that governments are held responsible for their actions.
At a media roundtable on ‘The Nexus Between Media and Government Accountability’, organised by FrontFoot Media Initiative and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism in Lagos on Thursday, they urged that journalists should transform audit queries by Auditors-General in audit reports into Freedom of Information requests
Seasoned media professional, Mr. Sonala Olumhense said that “the issue of accountability, which Wole Soyinka introduced as early as 1922, remains as relevant as ever”.
Referencing Sections 125 and 126 of the Nigerian Constitution, he discussed the crucial role of the Auditor-General, stating that the officer has the authority to undertake periodic checks of all government-certified corporations, commissions, authorities, and agencies, including all persons and bodies established by any law of the House of Assembly of the state.
He highlighted several critical challenges, such as the watering down of findings by the Accountant General and the lack of transparency in the House of Assembly’s records.
He raised concerns about what transpires after the Auditor-General submits reports, pointing to the apparent lack of follow-up actions or accountability measures being enforced. He stressed the need for more stringent oversight and clearer procedures to ensure that these reports lead to tangible outcomes.
Highlighting the importance of investigative journalism, Olumhense noted that “the mass media has a vital responsibility to ask tough questions, conduct thorough investigations, and present their findings to the public to foster a culture of accountability”.
A former Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Emeka Izeze pointed out that the media has often been blamed for contributing to Nigeria’s problems. He contended that the real issue lies in systemic failures, such as the absence of an appointed Auditor-General in Lagos State and the lack of accessible public audit reports.
He stressed that the media’s goal should be to guide the country toward fulfilling its potential by ensuring that government officials are held accountable.
Izeze emphasised that journalists act as watchdogs, dedicated to uncovering and reporting the truth to help Nigeria reach its full potential.
He views journalists as the essential missing link in the accountability chain. “Journalists are the missing link in ensuring accountability. Journalists play a crucial role in filling this gap, as the Auditor General works under the governor’s discretion, making it challenging to get credible reports”, he admonished.
Addressing why the media cannot interrogate audit reports, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Mr. Eze Anaba highlighted the significant challenges facing the media industry.
He explained that the media is often a victim of macro-level issues, making it difficult to retain journalists in many states. Since most reporters work for state governments, he said that they frequently depend on these same governments for access to reports, which creates a problematic and compromising situation.
He said: “It is almost difficult for journalists to have a credible audit report from the states. The Auditor-General exists at the pleasure of the governor and they could not issue a report that would irritate the governor not to talk of the federal government.
“The Auditor-General exists at the pleasure of the governor and will not issue a report that irritates the governor, not to talk of offending him. State finance is the personal finance of the governor. At some point in this democracy, a governor lived in Abuja, he never went to his state. After federal allocation, he goes to the state, shares the money, and goes back to Abuja.
“Media is a victim to macro issues. It is almost difficult now to keep reporters in a state due to financial constraints as most of the journalists today work for the state governments.
“This issue we’re dealing with is a fundamental problem. The truth is that critical audit interrogation, especially that of our subnational, is almost impossible. The problem we are in is beyond audit reporting. Studying our democracy involves more than audit interrogation, we also have to look at auditing other institutions”.
Earlier, Mr. Sully Abu identified accountability as a critical virtue missing in the country, highlighting its importance for driving progress and encouraging introspection among both citizens and leaders.
He said: “The single major problem of this nation is the lack of accountability across every level.
In the First Republic, there used to be accountability. In those days, civil servants could look the premier in the eye and refuse to do a particular thing. Currently, governors are the single most destabilising element in our nation.
“These days, governors do whatever they like, and nobody holds them to account. They decide who gets into legislation, who is impeached, and everything else. The fact is that at almost any point in time, more than half or three-quarters of governors are not in their states.
“They are either in Abuja or abroad. So, we are looking at how governance can be held accountable. The procedures, the laws, and institutions are there to hold the governors and the nation accountable, but they are not being applied”.
Speakers also stressed the importance of bridging the between technology and journalism stating that technology has become critical, stating that media must pay serious attention to the growing divide between those who have technology, and knowledge in the newsrooms, but low journalism content and older people who have the journalism know-how without the technology bridging the gap between technology and journalism is a critical call for journalism to take.
