CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The Kaduna state ministry of finance started when the country was pre-independent in 1958 during the northern region, the ministry of finance is the custodian of public fund and stores and is therefore essentially a controlling ministry as opposed to other executing agencies of the government. The ministry is headed by a commissioner as the chief executive officer and deputized by the permanent secretary who is a carrier and servant and is the chief officer of 145 staff including accounting officers on monthly basis. The ministry consists of three (3) major departments and seven (7) sub-treasuries.
1. Administration and finance which further sub-divided into stores and verification division.
2. Treasury which is further sub-divided into final accounts and debts management and ministry of finance Incorporated division and sub-treasury.
3. Internal audit (state)
1. ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
The department is headed by the director and is responsible for the general administration of the ministry which includes maintenance of staff records, processing of staff promotion, recruitment training discipline and welfare etc.
STORES AND VERIFICATION DIVISION.
This division is headed by the chief stores officer who is charged with the responsibility of purchasing and disturbing of office equipment’s the ministry of finance is in custody of the public funds and stores, and is therefore a protective clothing to all government ministries and department and boarding of unserviceable equipment/ vehicles.
2. TREASURY DEPARTMENT
This department is headed by the accountant general and is charged with the responsibility of keeping receipt of government funds banking and maintenance of bank accounts, disbursement of all approved fund released, bank reconciliation, control of treasury documents and control of pooled accounting staff of the state.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE INCRPORATED (MOFI) DIVISION
This division is headed by the deputy director and is responsible for revenue collection management. Appraisal of investment opportunity for government,
management, of investment of government companies and ensuring the receipts of dividend and other funds due to government.
FINAL ACCOUNT AND DEBT MANAGEMENT DIVISION
The division is headed by the deputy director and is responsible for the collection and accounting data from ministry department, analysis of accountant-general’s reports, maintenance of external internal loan records and supervision of the state computer center.
3. INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT (STATE)
The department is headed by the director and is charged with the responsibility of drawing up of internal controls and checks ensuring the adherence to the administrative and finance controls, investigation of fraud and other malpractices.
SUB-TREASURY
There are seven (7) sub-treasuries located at Kaduna, Zaria, Ikara, Saminaka, Kafanchan, Kachia and Birnin gwari. They are charged with the responsibility of collecting revenue and payment of pension.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Internal audit had been defined “as an independent appraisal function established within an organization to examine and evaluate its activities as a service to the organization”. Internal auditing is a process generally adopted towards ensuring and safeguarding of resources and promoting operational efficiency in organizations. The responsibilities for effective internal auditing normally rest on with the internal auditors who in turn rely a great deal on the soundness and effectiveness of internal control system.
The business world is developing so in the complex nature of the organizations. This complexity of modern organizations and hence the management has led to the much broader role at the internal audit. The role of internal audit is fast moving from mere checking of documents and physical duties to analyzing the ability of organization to react to changing circumstances.
Auditing for the public sector is aimed at prevention of mistakes, shortcomings and misdeeds in the public administration. The internal audit has become a good control measures that can foretell all the incidence of fraud and misappropriation of fund in government ministries if properly put in place.