By Precious Mark
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has called on Auditors-General across Nigeria to embrace artificial intelligence and uphold strict accountability, emphasizing that local government autonomy must translate into direct development for rural communities.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 30th Annual Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments/Area Councils in Nigeria in Lokoja, Ododo noted that public resources carry a moral duty that directly impacts human lives.
Reflecting on his previous experience as the Auditor-General for Local Governments in Kogi State, Ododo highlighted the crucial role auditors play in safeguarding public funds and ensuring that government expenditure delivers value for money.
“Money may appear in government books as figures and balances, but behind those figures are human lives, unfinished dreams, and communities waiting for government to make a difference.”
“Where auditors are professional, courageous, and properly equipped, government is constantly reminded that every naira has a purpose and every expenditure carries an obligation to the people,” the Governor said.
Addressing the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming financial autonomy for local governments, the governor remarked that greater independence comes with higher expectations of financial transparency.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to strengthening local governance, noting that local councils must use their financial autonomy to deliver essential services such as healthcare, rural roads, and water supply.
Ododo also urged auditors to leverage modern technology; including data analytics, machine learning, and geospatial intelligence, to detect financial risks early and prevent waste before it occurs.
However, he cautioned that digital tools must be guided by human integrity.
“Technology is a tool, not a conscience. Artificial Intelligence can identify a pattern; the auditor must understand what that pattern means. Technology may change the tools of auditing, but integrity will remain the soul of the profession,” Ododo remarked.
Drawing a personal reflection from his childhood, the governor shared how his late grandmother taught him basic accountability whenever she sent him to buy ingredients for soup, demonstrating that the fundamental principles of stewardship remain unchanged over time.
Highlighting his administration’s efforts to strengthen accountability, Ododo disclosed that the state has equipped the newly commissioned Kogi State Audit House with modern digital tools, converted contract staff under the local government audit office to permanent status, and finalized plans for a statewide recruitment exercise to boost audit manpower.
He further revealed that Kogi State has entered into a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to continuously train local auditors and build institutional capacity.
The four-day conference, chaired by Alhaji Babagana Laminu, brought together the Auditor-General for the Federation, Dr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, alongside auditors-general from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to discuss strategies for repositioning local government auditing in the digital age.