Public Auditors and Detection of Corruption in Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated over the years the need and urgency of the auditors in detecting and reporting corruption in the Nigerian public sector. The main objective of this research is to show through empirical analysis that it is the duty of the auditors in detecting corruption in the public sector. The study was conducted in Edo and Delta states of Nigeria. Survey design was employed in the study. The survey was in two folds. In 2014, copies of questionnaires were distributed to accountants and auditors in the public sector and 5 audit firms. A total of 117 copies of questionnaire were retrieved. While in 2018, a similar copy of questionnaire was distributed to auditors only, working in the public sector in the two states. The Systematic Random Sampling Technique (SRST) was used in selecting 62 respondents from a population of 484 in 2018. The bio data and analysis was done using the Simple Percentage Analysis. The findings revealed that corruption detection by the auditors should be part of auditor’s role and exposure of corruption by the auditors will reduce corruption in the public sector in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that ISA 200 and other Auditing standard should be reviewed to incorporate detection and reporting of corruption as key auditors’ responsibility. The State and National Houses of Assemblies should enact Act to review and impute the expected role of the auditors in the light of increasing accountability to the public.