STOP THE AGF HIRING PROCESS, THE ORGANIZATION URGES BUHARI.

In order to address some alleged anomalies, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) operating under the aegis of the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) demanded on Friday that the hiring process for the position of Auditor-General of the Federation be suspended.

The group emphasized the need of following due process in a petition sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the National Assembly.

The CPA spokesperson, Comrade Ayodeji Ologun, signed the petition, which was made available to journalists. The petition states that “we are calling for this stoppage because we are aware and have obtained documents that have shown that the current process, which is scheduled to be completed on May 11, 2023, is filled with irregularities and the outcome cannot be trusted.”

We are aware that the Federal Civil Service Commission contacted the ICPC in a letter with reference number FCSC/CHMN/RAG/023/II/112, dated October 4, 2022, and titled Screening of Candidates for Appointment as Auditor-General of the Federation.

“ICPC was given the names of five filmmakers to watch. In response, the ICPC wrote in a document with the file number ICPC/OPS/GBP/AuGF/TJ/564 dated November 17, 2022, that the commission had received the names of five directors for the screening process and that all but one of them had taken part.

Four of the directors reportedly disclosed their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), while one did not, according to the ICPC. After a post-test interview, just one director was found to have passed all four of the polygraph’s components.

“The ICPC also advises that one director be considered for appointment as the substantive Auditor General of the Federation based on the commission’s vetting of candidates.

“However, the Federal Civil Service Commission surprised everyone by writing to ICPC once more on January 12, 2023, with the reference FCSC/PS/31/VOL III/138. In a response letter dated March 17, 2023, the ICPC reported that the commission had received the names of ten directors for the screening process, of whom one had previously been profiled and deemed unsuitable.

The Federal Civil Service Commission must be able to explain to Nigerians why the original report of the ICPC was ignored before a new one was delivered to the ICPC with some names omitted. Questions like these need to be answered.