Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has urged Auditors-General for Local Governments across the country to embrace Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies to strengthen accountability, curb financial leakages and ensure that public funds translate into tangible development for citizens.
Ododo made the call on Monday while declaring open the 30th Annual Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments in Nigeria, held at the Government House in Lokoja.
The five-day conference, which runs from August 10 to 14, 2026, is themed, “Repositioning Auditors-General for Governance Excellence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Towards Global Best Practices in Local Government Audit.”
Speaking from his experience as a former Auditor-General for Local Governments in Kogi State, the Governor said the responsibilities of auditors go beyond verifying financial records and preparing reports.
He noted that every naira entrusted to government carries a moral responsibility to the people, stressing that behind every budget provision is a human need, whether for roads, schools, healthcare or opportunities capable of improving citizens’ lives.
“Compliance is fundamental, but value for money must remain at the heart of public financial management,” the Governor said.
Ododo said the need for effective auditing had become more critical following the Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial autonomy of Local Governments, stressing that greater autonomy must be accompanied by stronger accountability at the grassroots.
He therefore encouraged auditors to deploy data analytics, machine learning, predictive modelling and geospatial intelligence to identify suspicious transactions and detect potential risks before they develop into major financial infractions.
However, the Governor cautioned that technology alone could not replace human integrity and professional judgment, noting that while AI could identify unusual patterns, trained auditors were required to interpret the findings and determine whether a flagged transaction resulted from an error, misconduct or legitimate activity.
Ododo also highlighted efforts by his administration to strengthen audit institutions in Kogi State, including the recent commissioning of the Kogi State Audit House.
According to him, the facility is being equipped with modern auditing technology, while contract audit staff engaged during his tenure as Auditor-General are being converted to permanent appointments ahead of a planned statewide recruitment exercise to address manpower gaps.
He further disclosed that the state had entered into a four-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to enhance capacity development across Kogi’s audit offices.
The Governor urged participants to conclude the conference with more than resolutions, calling on them to renew their commitment to professional courage, independence, technological innovation and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
In his remarks, the Auditor-General for Local Governments in Kogi State, Hon. Yakubu Siaka Adabenege, thanked Governor Ododo for approving funding and hosting the conference, describing the gesture as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
Adabenege said the conference provided an important platform for auditors from across the country to exchange ideas and develop new strategies for improving public-sector auditing.
He also commended the leadership of the Conference of Auditors-General and participating delegates for their support, pledging to discharge his responsibilities with diligence and integrity.
The Kogi Auditor-General stressed that auditing must move beyond identifying errors to strengthening institutional systems, protecting public resources and restoring citizens’ confidence in government.
Also speaking, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Dr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, commended the organisers for sustaining the annual conference for three decades, describing this year’s theme as timely and forward-looking.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders in public-sector auditing to explore innovative approaches to financial oversight and promote stronger accountability, transparency and good governance at the Local Government level.
