Yakubu Adabenege Emerges National Auditors Forum Chairman »

The Kogi State Auditor General for Local Governments, Alhaji Yakubu Adabenege, has emerged Chairman of the Forum of Auditors General for Local Governments and Area Councils in Nigeria.

Adabenege emerged at the 30th Conference of the Forum currently held in Lokoja, Kogi State from the 10th to 14th of August, where Auditors General for Local Governments and Area Councils from across the country are meeting to deliberate on issues affecting the auditing profession, accountability and public financial management at the grassroots.

The Kogi State Auditor General dedicated his emergence to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the people of Kogi State, while describing the election as both an honour and a call to greater responsibility.

In his acceptance speech, Adabenege thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and expressed satisfaction that he received the mandate at a conference hosted by Kogi State.

He said his emergence reflected the values of professionalism, integrity and commitment to public service, and pledged to provide purposeful leadership that would advance the objectives of the Forum.

Adabenege also promised to strengthen professional collaboration among members and promote standards capable of deepening accountability and fiscal responsibility in local government administration.

“I deeply appreciate my colleagues for the confidence they have reposed in me by entrusting me with this responsibility. I accept this honour with a profound sense of duty and a clear understanding of the expectations that come with it,” he said.

He stressed that the responsibility of auditors extended beyond examining financial records to protecting public resources and ensuring that funds meant for citizens were properly applied.

“Our task is not merely to audit figures; it is to safeguard public resources, strengthen accountability and ensure that the resources meant for our people are applied responsibly. The grassroots deserve nothing less,” Adabenege said.

He urged members of the Forum to uphold professionalism, integrity and diligence, noting that their work directly affects the quality of governance and service delivery at the local government level.

According to him, auditors must remain independent and courageous in the discharge of their responsibilities because effective accountability systems are essential to strong local governance.

“The people at the grassroots look up to us to ensure that public resources are properly accounted for. We must therefore remain professional, independent and courageous in the discharge of our duties, because the strength of local governance is closely tied to the strength of its accountability systems,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government has congratulated Adabenege on his emergence, describing his election as recognition of his professional competence, experience and commitment to the auditing profession.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the state government said the development was a source of pride to Kogi State and demonstrated the confidence reposed in Adabenege by his professional colleagues.

Fanwo said the honour was particularly significant because it came during the 30th Conference of the Forum being hosted in Lokoja.

“The emergence of Alhaji Yakubu Adabenege as Chairman of the Forum is a recognition of his undoubted commitment to the growth of the auditing profession and his dedication to the principles of accountability and fiscal responsibility,” Fanwo said.

He said the state was confident that Adabenege would deploy his experience in providing purposeful leadership to the Forum.

“For us in Kogi State, this is a moment of pride. It is also a reminder that excellence, professionalism and commitment to duty will always attract recognition. We are confident that Alhaji Adabenege will bring his wealth of experience to bear in providing purposeful leadership to the Forum,” he added.

The Commissioner also linked Adabenege’s emergence to what he described as the institutional environment created by the Ododo administration, which he said places emphasis on accountability, transparency, professionalism and prudent management of public resources.

Fanwo said the state government would continue to support institutions and initiatives aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and probity in the management of public resources, particularly at the local government level.

“The Kogi State Government pledges its full support to the Forum as it pursues its mandate of strengthening transparency, accountability and probity at the Local Government level. We believe that a stronger accountability framework will ultimately translate into better governance and improved service delivery for our people,” he said.

Fanwo also congratulated the new Chairman and other members of the Forum, expressing confidence that the deliberations at the Lokoja conference would produce practical recommendations for strengthening public financial management and professional auditing across the country.

Adabenege’s emergence places a Kogi State official at the head of the national professional body representing Auditors General for Local Governments and Area Councils in Nigeria.