Naijaonpoint
Three years after the deadline for its 2022 financial statements had passed, Voice of Nigeria is yet to submit its audited accounts to the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, despite its management stating in May 2025 that the statements were already “ready for submission”.
A review by this media house on the financial records of Voice of Nigeria found that VON failed to submit its audited financial statements and accompanying management reports for two consecutive financial years in 2022 and 2023.
For the 2022 financial year, VON’s management stated that, as at May 2025, the audited financial statements were “ready for submission” but had not yet been forwarded to the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
The 2022 financial statements were due for submission the following year. As at May 2025, the documents still remained unsubmitted despite having been described by management as ready.
For the 2023 financial year, management stated that the financial statements were still with the external auditor. The delay was attributed to an extension in the implementation of the capital budget.
Reacting to the statement, the Auditor General stated that the explanations are “deemed unsatisfactory” and maintained the findings pending the actual submission of the outstanding financial statements and management reports.
The action by VON is in violation of Section 23(3) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, which requires corporations to prepare and publish audited financial reports within three months after the end of their financial year.
Also, Paragraph 3210(v) of the Financial Regulations 2009 requires the Chief Executive Officer to submit the Audited Accounts and Management Report to the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General no later than 31 May of the following year.
Jibrin Baba Ndace was appointed Director-General of Voice of Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu in October 2023, succeeding Osita Okechukwu, who had served as Director-General since 2016.
Source: …Secretsreporters