News

Experts Charge Media Practitioners, Auditors To Promote Accountability

Published

4 years ago

October 7, 2022

Editor

By Joseph Kanjo, Benin

Experts from the finance sector and media have urged journalists to prioritise audit reporting in order to promote accountability in Nigeria.

They added that Auditors-General in the 36 states and the media are critical to ensuring the accountability of public officers in the control and management of public funds.

They further advised both journalists and state auditors-general to follow
the dictates of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do proper audit reporting.

These were the positions taken by resource persons at the maiden edition of Audit Report workshop held in Benin City between October 5th and 6th 2022.

Info Daily reports that Audit Reporting Training-X-raying State Government Audit Reports is a flagship capacity development programme of FrontFoot Media Initiative under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and sponsored by MacArthur Foundation.

In his opening remarks, Sully Abu, a veteran journalist, former Managing Director of New Age newspapers and The African Guardian, charged journalists to be courageous, ethical, and conscientious in unfolding the contents of audit reports.

According to him, until media practitioners rise to the responsibility of holding public office holders accountable, they will continue to handle Nigeria’s common wealth with impunity.

On his part, Emeka Izeze, also a veteran journalist and former Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers Limited, showed the
participants various pathways to generating needed information and urged creativity in reportage of subjects such as the audit reports of states.

In his presentation, Sonala Olumhense, a renowned columnist of and former Editor of ThisWeek declared that auditors-general should play a crucial role in promoting accountability as the Nigerian constitution empowers them.

“The Auditor-General of a State is appointed by the Governor on the
recommendation of the State Civil Service Commission and confirmed bythe House of Assembly. The Auditor-General is not accountable to the governor or supervised by the governor or any other authority.”

Citing six pillars of the legal and professional authority of auditors-general, Olumhense added, “The Auditor-General has the authority to undertake periodic checks of all government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities, agencies, including all persons and bodies established by any law of the House of Assembly of that State.”

One of the resource persons, Chief Chukwuemeka Anika, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, urged auditors to stay ethical in their audit engagements and to sign only audits that align with their professional, ethical, and moral standards.

Another resource person, Mr Godswell Omenogo, a chartered accountant and auditor, while noting the campaigns against corruption, affirmed, “These
clamours can only be effective if all relevant stakeholders adhere strictly to processes and procedures as enshrined in our laws and related gazettes.

Relevant questions need to be asked, adequate information need to be provided, all relevant functionaries need to objectively carry out their respective functions.” He added.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.