EFFCTIVENESS OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (A CASE STUDY OF THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF IMO STATE).

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION

The term audit is derived from the latin verb “audire”, which means to hear the origin of audit allowed tenant former to work on their land owners themselves, did not become involved in the business of farming. The land owners relied upon overseer who “listened” to the account of stewardship given by the tenants. Oaring this period till date, and with reference to the companies and allied matters act of 2004, the word “audit” is described as:

The independent examination of and expression of opinion on the financial statements of an enterprise why an appointed auditor I pursuance of that appointment and in compliance with any relent statutory. In order to form an opinion as to the accuracy, truth and fairness of such account.

The business world prior to industrial revolution in the 19^th century till present day, has witnessed a lot of changes and developments. In the early economic development, the mode of recording and analyzing of accounting dates was by manual means. Auditing during this time was orally because the business of writing was get to develop. The modernization of in the business world led to the areas where writing and recording analysis evolved with the use of some electro mechanicals. .

Accountability on the other hand is the obligation to answer for a responsibility that has been concerned, (the 2006). During the era when accounting system evolved, the business transition which took placed to be recorded, analysis and based on the principles, methods and procedures laid down by the accounting profession. Also certain development which occurred, gave rise to the right to examine the books and to obtain all the information and explanation necessary for giving a report on the truth and correctness of the business sheet. In view of this auditing was redefined according to (CAMA 2004) as an exercise whose objective is to enable auditors express on opinion on whether the financial statement gives a true and fair view of the entities affairs at the period and of its profit and loss for the period than ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with greater emphasis placed on the information value of the business balance sheet and prospective investor becoming increasing conscious of the need for the rejection of error and fund was regarded as the province of the business  management. These developments further gave rise to the owner of the business. Which in turn led to the emergence of the financial statement legislation and recognition   of auditing. As required by the company’s act, the audited is meant to provide a written report, expressing their opinion regarding the freeness and “fairness” of words, auditing both in the past and at present is fanned at enquiring that the stewardship account being centered to owners of business is a time representation of the event that took place. Also development in the business coupled with technological breakthrough led to the advent of electronic data processing business dates.

This, in the world of business implies the computerization of accounting system which still demands that auditors should perform their role as opinionist. Based on this, the question that strike one’s mind could effective auditing lead to proper accountability has it origin in stewardship accounting (especially in the state government system). The function which accountings serve s in the earliest times of our society is providing owners of wealth, the means of safe guarding it from embezzlement as noted by Smith (2007).

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