AFRICAN Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) has called on Auditor Generals to prioritise data in the audit process.

According to a statement issued by head of public relations at the Office of the Auditor General Ellen Chikale, AFROSAI-Information Systems Audit Manager Frederick Bobo emphasised on the need for quality data, digitalisation, innovativeness and prioritisation of data in the audit process.

“The ongoing 15th African Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) General Assembly in Dakar has urged Auditor Generals to integrate big data in the audit process. This comes in the backdrop of embracing the emerging issues in public sector auditing. Speaking during theme on integrating big data in public sector auditing, AFROSAI-Information Systems Audit Manager Frederick Bobo emphasised on the need for quality data, digitalisation, innovativeness and prioritisation of data in the audit process so as to improve efficiencies and ensure that there is data integrity for greater audit impact,” the statement read.

“Mr Bobo pointed out that this would result in building data driven Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) that recognises the strategic importance of data in the audit work processes.”

And Assistant Director Information Technology Audits, Brighton Mpatisha said Zambia had not lagged behind in the integration of big data in public sector auditing.

“And head of data science in the office of the Auditor Kenya Mr Addy Waichigo sharing on Kenyan experience of how they have embraced big data in the audit of integrated financial management system (IFMIS), said through the data science team they were able to interrogate the IFMIS systems of all the 122 institutions as well as share exceptional issues to be further interrogated by financial auditors. Meanwhile, Assistant Director Information Technology Audits Brighton Mpatisha who moderated an online session stated that the integration of big data by supreme audit institutions had been faced with a number of challenges among them lack of attaching strategic importance to big data and how it could affect public sector auditing,” the statement read further.

“Mr Mpatisha stated that despite the challenges highlighted by SAIs, Zambia had not lagged behind in the integration of big data in public sector auditing in that the office of the Auditor General has audited the payroll management system in which the seven Vs of big data have been incorporated. The Vs of big data are volume, variety, velocity, veracity, variability, visualisation and value. The Meeting through the Dakar Resolutions agreed to among others develop a good understanding of the strategic technological choices to be made within their strategic plan and make them a priority for the SAI; develop skills in the use and analysis of big data in line with the technology choices made.”

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Chikale stated that the 15th AFROSAI General Assembly opened with a call to Auditor Generals in the continent to enhance the audit of the extractive industries sector.

“The 15th African Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) General Assembly opened with a call to Auditor Generals in the continent to enhance the audit of the extractive industries sector. Speaking during the meeting’s theme on the Audit of the Extractive Industries Sector in Africa with particular emphasis on Mines, subject matter specialist Prof. Ndougsa Théophile said supreme audit institutions (SAIs) need to effectively audit the mining sector, especially the mining value chain as well as local economic and societal development aspects,” read the statement.

“He said mines have the potential to improve the nations’ revenue collections therefore it was important that auditors pay particular attention to the extractive industries sector. He further observed that countries stand to benefit from these audits by ensuring that they contribute to greater transparency in the processes of granting the titles and authorisations required for the exploitation of mineral resources, revenues and the securing of funds for future generations.”

Chikale stated that the Office of the Auditor Zambia had been auditing the Mines, in particular, the Environmental Protection Fund.

“The meeting agreed to improve SAI’s assessment of the performance of state bodies responsible for managing the extractive sector by ensuring that environmental and social monitoring systems and mechanisms are in place and functioning properly. The Office of the Auditor Zambia has been auditing the Mines and in particular Environmental Protection Fund so as to ensure the effective implementation of environmental and social impact mitigation plans, as well as the rehabilitation and restoration plans of the mineral extraction sites. Zambia is represented at this meeting by senior government officials from the Office of the Auditor General,” stated Chikale.