By Kebba AF Touray
The National Audit Office (NAO) has issued a statement to remind all government institutions and agencies to submit their financial statements by 31 March 2025.
The National Audit Office renewed this call in a press release issued on Friday, 28 February 2025.
It urges all those charged with governance of public institutions (i.e. Boards and Management) to fulfill their statutory responsibility to prepare and submit their financial statements by 31st March 2025, for audit.
The NAO statement also extends the reminder to public institutions whose audits are currently outsourced to private audit firms to also submit their financial statements to the audit firms they have engaged, not later than 31st March 2025.
The Audit Office reminded all the concerned institutions that as part of NAO’s commitment to remedy this prolonged challenge, and in line with its functions, the Auditor General will now include in his annual report to the National Assembly, a summary on the status of financial reporting by public institutions.
A section of this report, as shown by the NAO in the release, will include a summary on institutions that submitted their financial statements on time, those that submitted after the 31st of March deadline, and those that did not submit at all.
“Additionally, institutions are encouraged to ensure the financial statements are credible and prepared accurately in line with the institutions adopted financial reporting framework,” NAO said.
The Audit Office stated that the submission of sub-standard financial statements also hinders the commencement of the planned audits and concluded thus: “The Auditor General seeks the cooperation of all, and reassures the institutions and all other stakeholders that the audit service delivery is purposely to enhance accountability and transparency in our public financial management systems.”
