Auditor General Says Lack Of Documents Obstructing Audits

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Auditor General Says Lack Of Documents Obstructing Audits
The Auditor General says failure of government officials and heads of
institutions to avail documents for auditing is impeding their work.
20 September 2017
Auditor General Says Lack Of Documents Obstructing Audits
Ambassador Stephen K. Wondu, Auditor General. [Photot by Jale Richard]

By Jale Richard

JUBA, 20 September 2017 [Gurtong]-In an exclusive interview on Monday,
Ambassador Stephen K. Wondu the Auditor General said it is impossible
to continue with their work because they do not have all required
documentations from the institutions and some government officials.

“It takes long some times for government agencies to provide us with
information,” Wondu said. “Sometimes we don’t get it at all and that
limits our scope to perform and yet the constitution insists that we
must produce. So in spite of these challenges we must produce.”

Wondu said many managers are suspicious of auditors because they think
auditors will expose their shortfalls.

“There is a misconception that we are looking for fault, and we are
looking to victimize which is not the case. The case is instead we
want to ensure that the resources of the country are utilized as
specified by the law. There is no intention of witch hunting and
victimization,” he said.

Wondu said their primary duty is to help those being audited use the
resources at their disposal in a way that maximizes and optimizes
their objectives and missions. “

When we point out errors or frauds in our reports, we do so to help
the institution address and redress the shortcomings,” he said.

The Auditor General also added that due to periodic re-structuring of
the government, their plans have to be subjected to periodic reviews
which pose great legal and technical challenges.

For example, he said, creation of more States created a situation that
left the former States unaudited because there is no legal provision
to audit them.

He said frequent changes of government officials and heads of
institutions also does not allow for auditing of those who had not
been audited.

“Our worth and value to our government and society lies in upholding
the provisions of our laws,” Wondu said.



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