The Role of the Internal Audit Unit in Revenue Mobilization and Service Delivery in the Krachi Nchumuru District Assembly

Abstract

Internal audit in institutions especially, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies constitute an integral part of ensuring good governance, effective revenue mobilization and service delivery. The study assessed the roles of internal audit unit in revenue mobilization, the channels of revenue leakages and internal control strategies and policies for Krachi Nchumuru District Assembly. Data was sourced from direct interviews with selected staff and expert opinions from selected practitioners in auditing; Krachi Nchumuru District Assembly’s composite budget and annual financial statements were also used for sourcing data. There exists a functioning audit committee in Krachi Nchumuru District Assembly. The internal audit unit lack professional competence and the independence of internal audit have been improved significantly through the promulgation of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921). Findings of the study confirmed that lack of public education and sensitization, proper monitoring exercise, lack of accountability and lack of training for auditors impacts negatively on prudent revenue mobilization. In view of this, it is recommended that internal audit unit at Krachi Nchumuru District Assembly should be adequately resource to ensuring prudent revenue mobilization, enforcement of Assembly’s bye-laws and duty bearers should render social accountability so as to win the trust of the rate payers.