ABSTRACT
This study focused on Impact of Local Government Audit on Local Government Account. The Dutse Local Government council was used as the case study. In the course of the study hypothesis was formulated in line with the research objectives. The sample for the study were randomly selected, comprising of employees in the Dutse Local Government council. The study employed descriptive statistics in analyzing the data gotten from the questionnaire. The chi square test was carried out and result showed that auditing of local government account in Dutse has helped to improve efficiency of revenue generation. The study concludes that the Local Government Internal Audit Unit should be facilitated by giving it the freedom it deserves in auditing of council’s account. It is therefore recommended that accountants of high integrity be posted to the audit unit in local governments so that funds can be effectively safeguarded for the grass root development.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page - - - - - - - - - - -i
Declaration - - - - - - - - - - -ii
Approval page- - - - - - - - - - -iii
Dedication- - - - - - - - - - - -iv
Acknowledgement- - - - - - - - - - -v
Table of contents- - - - - - - - - - -vi
Abstract- - - - - - - - - - - -viii
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study - - - - - - - -1
1.2 Statement
of Research Problem - - - - - - -3
1.3 Objective
of the Study - - - - - - - -3
1.4 Research
Questions - - - - - - - - -4
1.5 Research
Hypothesis - - - - - - - - -4
1.6 Significance
of the Study - - - - - - - -5
1.7 Scope
and Limitation of the Study - - - - - - -5
1.8 Definition
of the Terms - - - - - - - -6
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual
Framework - - - - - - - -8
2.2 Theoretical
Framework - - - - - - - -22
2.3 Empirical
Review - - - - - - - - -24
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - -27
3.2 Research
Design - - - - - - - - -27
3.3 Population
of the Study- - - - - - - - -27
3.4 Sample
Size - - - - - - - - - -27
3.5 Sampling
Techniques - - - - - - - - -28
3.6 Sources
of Data - - - - - - - - -28
3.7 Research
Instrument - - - - - - - - -28
3.8 Method
of Data Collection - - - - - - - -28
3.8 Data
Analysis and Statistical Tools - - - - - - -29
CHAPTER
FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - -30
4.1 Analysis
of Bio Data of Respondents - - - - - - -30
4.2 Analysis
of Research Questions - - - - - - -33
4.3 Test
of Hypothesis - - - - - - - - -40
4.4 Interpretation
of Result - - - - - - - -43
4.5 Summary
of Findings - - - - - - - - -44
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary - - - - - - - - - -46
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - -47
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - - -47
References - - - - - - - - - -49
Appendix - - - - - - - - - -51
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
In nearly all
Western industrialized countries, there are well developed mechanisms that
guide the management of local government resources. These mechanisms are
embedded in the financial regulations. In Nigeria, the mechanisms are embedded
in the Revised Financial memoranda for Local Government 1991. The Financial
Memorandum stipulates the generation and judicious management of funds for the
benefit of the entire community. Local governments, being government at the
grassroots level, have the sole responsibility of catering for the citizens at
the local levels. As Okoli (1998) rightly pointed out, that Local governments
exist to fill the gap which the national government is too remote to fill, it
brings the national government closer to the people and makes its impact felt
in all the nooks and crannies of the society.
By implication,
the national government through this medium caters for the grassroots. Local
governments play vital roles in the development of the country. This third tier
government is very vital in the political and economic field of a nation.
Therefore, the aim of the provisions for the generation and management of fund
in the Revised Financial Memorandum 1991 is to ensure adequate generation and
proper management of fund so as to achieve the sole responsibilities of local
governments. As Aborishade (1994) rightly observed, that the institution of
local government is an embodiment of progress and is as old as anything one can
quickly consider essential in the political and economic field of a nation.
The word local
entails the involvement and participation of the grass root in the activities
affecting daily lives of communities. It should be noted that these activities
usually range from “absolute personal to extremely highly decentralized” (Oguonu;
2004). Whatever the case, these activities are usually streamlined, well-structured
and the application of bureaucracy prevails. Local governments were bestowed
with many responsibilities and were equally bestowed with many sources of
revenues to cope with these demands. Unfortunately, many local governments in
Nigerian have taken this to be a filial responsibility.
Many studies in
Nigeria have linked the poor development record of local governments in Nigeria
to inadequate funding and limited financial autonomy. For instance Elekwa
(1996), Agbuzu (1985) and DLakwa (1996) observed that local governments in
Nigeria do not have substantial degree of financial autonomy to engage in any
meaningful development. For instance, the Section 1.8 of the financial
memoranda on local government audit authorizes the Finance Department to be
responsible for the care and custody of the local government Funds, whether in
cash or held in the local government Bank account.
Seeing that all
revenues due to the local governments are collected promptly and properly paid into
the local government Funds Dealing promptly with queries arising from
inspections or audits and keeping records of such queries showing how they were
cleared.
In addition,
section 39.3 requires the internal auditor to carry out all audit queries and
sanctions not irrespective of who is involved. Below are some of the areas the
internal auditor is required to carry out audit queries:
Irregularities
resulting in losses to local government due to either fraudulent activities of
the functionaries to their negligence or incompetence.
Payment through false certificate of completion, Poor quality work (building,
new roads, etc), Shortage or losses of stores by storekeeper, Assets paid for
but not collected, Payment of ghost workers. Failure to collect local
government revenues and also failure to account for local government revenues,
overpayment of salaries and allowances to staff. etc. Agu-Sylvia U. (2007).
An examination
of the challenges of the local government audit shows that the problem of
autonomy has long been the bane of the local councils in Nigeria (Andy,
2001). In each state there is an
Auditor-General (Local Government) who is responsible for auditing the accounts
of each of the local government councils in the state. Before 1989 the
Auditor-General in each state was responsible for auditing the state and local
government accounts. The split of these functions between the two
Auditor-Generals may have reduced the status of the Auditor-General’s Office
and may have had an adverse consequence on their independence (Andy, 2001).
The internal
audit units at state and local government council level have relatively little
independence. However, this may not be particularly important as they act as a
management check on the accuracy and regularity of financial transactions
rather than being an independent review on the quality of internal control.
1.2 Statement
of Research Problem
This research
work focuses on the impact local government audit on local government account.
The position of local government in Nigeria today is not an available one.
After generated by the 1976 reforms and died down, we are again witnessing a
decline in the status of local government in the country. Various problems such
as political, corruption, administrative inefficiency and lack of trained
personnel have continued to plague most of the local government councils.
Before and
during the second republic, the director of audit report was not taken very
serious, thus, not serving as a deterrent to checking fraud mis-statement and
correcting the keeping of account half-heartedly. Fraudulent local government
staffers were not punished. Consequently, auditors were apathetic. Council
account were unaudited for upward of five years (5). The advent of the military
regime in 1983, witnessed a tremendous change qualified audit report was used
as one of the criteria for punishing fraudulent offices.
Consequently,
audit report was accorded the deserved place of importance. For example, audit
certificate now form one of the basis on which payments are made for benefits accrued
to the council. Accounting records which had hither to been kept in half-hazard
manner are now been well maintained. It is not uncommon to see council accounts
being audited for the year immediately proceeding the current financial year
being audited.
This research work is to investigate into how the council’s account with
particular reference to Dutse Local Government Council are audited; the
effectiveness or otherwise of the external auditor and the effect of the audit
report on the council’s account. To this end the following questions are
raised.
1.3 Objectives
of the Study
Since local
government in carrying out their powers and duties spend large sums of public
money and they also generated revenue. It is necessary to ensure as far as
possible that extravagant or illegal expenditure is avoided and that the
interests of rate payer and the tax payers are protected. In order to achieve
this object, it is essential for the accounts of local government council to be
motivated and audited.
The mere fact
that local government council are popularly elected bodies does not necessarily
ensure that the funds with which they are entrusted will be spend with due care
and for the purpose authorized by law and some further safeguard is therefore
necessary. Therefore, the objectives of this project include.
- To
have an insight into the local government account, the nature of the
accounts and their uses.
- To
find out the extent to which the objectives of auditing have been achieved
in local government council’s finance
- To
determine whether the existing internal control system is complied with by
the council
- To
determine the needs for auditing local government accounts.
- To
determine the effects of auditor’s report in managing the council’s
account
- To
find out the extent to which the objectives of auditing have been achieved
in local government council in revenue generation
- To
determine the various source of revenue accruing to them and its
efficiency or otherwise.
1.4 Research
Questions
i.
What is the nature of local
government account and their uses in Nigeria?
ii.
Does local government’s councils
account meet the stipulated objectives of auditing?
iii.
Does effective auditing of local
government account help in improving revenue generation?
1.5 Research
Hypothesis
Having outlined
the purposed of this research two hypotheses were stated and tested in our
analysis.
Hi: Auditing
of Local Government Account in Dutse has helped to improve efficiency in
revenue generation.
Ho: Auditing
of Local Government Account has not improve efficiency in revenue generation
1.6 Significance of the Study
It is primary
function of an auditor to ensure that no money which are due to the council are
unaccounted for. Therefore, an audit could control extravagance in the local
government council as illustrated by the case of Roberts vs Hopwood in 1921.
Since efforts will be made to find out how the council’s accounts are audited,
and the effect of such audit on the accounts of the council. The effectiveness
and efficiency of revenue generation.
There is no
doubt that the findings will be valuable to:
- The
council
- The
internal auditor
- Academic
students and
Those who may
have difficulties in laying hands on documents of similar nature.
1.7 Scope
and Limitations of the Study
The scope of
this study is centred on the local government council’s in Jigawa state with
particular reference to the Dutse Local Government Council.
It also centred
on the structure of Local Government Accounts, sources and application of funds
audit and it objectives, the internal control system and qualities of an
auditor. Whether audit queries issued to appropriate officers are answered.
Attempt will also be made to present, where possible a description of the
administrative process of the local government council in Jigawa State.
Nevertheless the scope of this project work is determined by large extent by
the materials available.
Limitations
One is always
bound to experience some limitations in carrying out such a strenuous work.
Among the major limitations was lack of financial resources to travel to all
the local government councils in Jigawa State to collect relevant data. Hence
Dutse Local Government Council was chosen since it operates the same structure.
Secondly, some
of our respondents, though willing to co-operate, but could not give instant
attention due to their crowded schedules. Too much time and money were wasted
on waiting and repeat visits.
Thirdly, this
study is limited to human error and bias responses some respondents would want
to impress the interviewer to falsely gain credits. However, meanings may be
read to the same questions by different respondents. Even though there was
attempt to ensure correctness in all the answers errors or omissions or
commission could not be ruled out in a study of this kind.
1.8 Definition of Terms
For the purpose
of this research work, the researcher feels, it is important to define certain
operational terms. The definition of these terms would enable readers to grasp
their usage in the project. The terms defined are:
Audit: means a conscientious and
objective examination of and injury into any statement of account
Internal Auditor: An officer of the
local government charged with the responsibility for conducting internal audit
of the management of the finance of a local government.
External Auditor: An officer in respect
of local government appointed under section 152(1) of the local Government law
of 1980
Local Government: A local government
established under sec. 3 of the law
Law: the Jigawa State Local Government
Law No. 1 of 1980
Local Government Treasury: the
department of the local government set up to administer the finance and funds
of the local government under the finance and general purpose committee and in
accordance with the provisions of the law; the financial memoranda and any
other relevant regulations or instructions.
Finance and General Purpose Committee:
the finance and general purpose committee of the local government established
under sec. 41(3) (a) of the law to
manage and control the financial affairs of the local government.
Council: a council constituted for a
local government established under sec. 3 of the law Instruments in relation to
a local government council means the instrument establishing the council
Officer Controlling a Vote: the officer
appointed by the local government to control the disbursement of funds provided
for under a particular head or sub-head of expenditure or other authorized
accounts.
Revenue Collector: any person who is
authorized to receive revenue or other money payable to the local government
Revenue: every book in any means by
which a local government officially acknowledges the receipt of money paid to
it and the expression includes carbon receipts books metal and plastic licence
disc, licence forms and commercial stickers.
Secretary: the secretary of the local
government appointed by sec. 77(1) of the law
Treasurer: head of the local government
treasury who may designated the treasurer, finance officer or chief finance
officer.
Income: Revenue accruing to a local
government including capital grants or other grants and loans raised by the
council
Public Office: Any officer of emolument
in the public service of the federation or the public service of a state.
Financial Memanda: An instrument
containing instructions which shall be observed and complied with by all local
governments for the better control and management of the financial business of
local government council in the state.
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