LASG To Provide Free Legal Support For Awaiting Inmates, Tasks Auditors On Skills Knowledge Improvement
The Permanent Secretary/Auditor-General, Office of the Auditor General for Local Government, Mrs. Adesumbo Abolarin, has urged Auditors in the public service to improve their knowledge attain international compliance levels in the discharge of their duties.
Abolarin, who gave the charge in her address at the commencement of a three-day training on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Accrual, in conjunction with ADRAC Professional Services, held at NECA House, CBD, Ikeja, stated that the participants were very lucky and opportune to participate in the training despite the pandemic.
She said, “To whom much is given, much is expected. If any officer is going to represent the office, they need to upgrade their skills. At the end of the training, an examination would be conducted by the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) United Kingdom. Any participant who passes the prescribed examination would be issued a certificate that is internationally acceptable”.
The Permanent Secretary urged participants to take advantage of the training and the opportunity for certification, pointing out that the exercise was designed for officers on Grade Levels 08 to 14 in the office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments.
Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Development, Rev. McEwen Lamai (FCA), stated that the training is part of the year 2020 capacity building training programmes for staff, noting that the Office is saddled with the responsibility of conducting human capacity development projects.
“This training session is a high-value technical training to be moderated by members of ICAN. I urge participants to pay more attention to the training session, be punctual and do not be distracted. The training would be rounded up by ACCA certification and your performance at the examination would be proof of attendance”, Lamai stated.
On his part, the CEO ADRAC Professional Services, Dr. Deji Awobotu (FCA) appreciated the Permanent Secretary/Auditor-General for Local Governments, for the opportunity to collaborate with the Office on capacity building for staff.
He maintained that Auditors should have requisite experience in the finance profession in terms of preparing and appraising financial statements, hence the need for the capacity training for auditors to enable them guide Council Treasurers in preparing documents for submission to the Auditor-General for Local Governments.
Awobotu said that the training will also aid compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).
The State Government also reiterated its commitment to providing free legal representation to awaiting trial inmates of Correctional Centres during their court appearances.
The Director, Directorate of Citizens Rights (DCR), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Odusanya, who gave the assurance during her quarterly tour of Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Badagry Correctional Centre and Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, stated that the DCR, in conjunction with the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Community Service Unit (CSU), will ensure that awaiting trial inmates have free legal representation.
She explained that the quarterly visit to the Correctional Centres by the Directorate is in line with the State Government’s policy to create free access for all to justice, irrespective of gender, faith or social status.
According to her, “The Office also conducts prison watch services to ensure that prisoners are kept under humane conditions and their fundamental human rights are not violated, especially awaiting trial inmates that are presumed innocent until convicted by a law court”.
Odusanya averred that the present administration is determined to reduce the high number of individuals in incarceration, who are yet to be convicted through the prison watch services of the Directorate.
The personnel of all Correctional Centres visited expressed their gratitude to the Directorate on behalf of the inmates, saying the periodic visits give hope to the prisoners, especially the awaiting trial inmates.
They, however, appealed to the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene and provide legal representation to prisoners charged with minor crimes but are in confinement due to their inability to get lawyers during their various hearings.
The visiting team presented gift items such as Antiseptic Disinfectants, Air Fresheners, Insecticides, Toothbrushes, Slippers, Hand Sanitisers, Shaving Sticks, Sanitary Towels, Detergent Soaps, Brooms, and other sanitary materials to the inmates of the three Correctional Centres.
Comments are closed.