Economic Confidential, June, 2009

PROFILE

Gabriel Ogunsina: God-fearing Auditor

By Labaran Saleh

The staffs and those close to him say he is godfathering, humble and very hardworking officer who can hardly hurt a fly. This modest gentleman believes in the maxim that says “God’s time is the best.”

Gabriel Folurunso Ogunsina was the most senior Director in the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation whose name was announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed as the Acting Auditor General of the Federation with effect from 19th May 2009. The government directive was based on the approval of President Umaru Musa YarÁdua who insisted in adherence to due process in governance including public service appointment.

Before the directive, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation was in the news when the outgoing Auditor General, Mr. Robert Ejenavi, against common sense and reasoning was alleged to be nursing an extension of his tenure and had influenced advertisements inviting candidates to fill the vacancy to the top position from anywhere so that after a long process of selection he could have enjoyed a long period before handing over to new person likely from outside the service.

The impression created by the action of the Ejenavi was to the effect that those directors in the office were not capable of taking over from him. And yet while all these were going on Mr. Ogunsina was not bothered as many civil servants and people of goodwill including the media took off a campaign against the unprofessional conduct of the Outgoing Auditor to deprive officers to reach their peak in the service.

The Office of the Auditor general of Federation is a professional cum technical office that has competent, well-trained and experienced officers in auditing just like their directors.

Born on July 28, 1951 in Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Gabriel Folorunso Ogunsina, the acting Auditor General of the Federation joined the service in September 13, 1979 as Auditor II and deployed to Nigerian Army Accounts Inspectorate serving under the supervision of Assistant Director Defence and Securities. He had served in various offices including the Cabinet Office, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Federal Ministry of Transport and Aviation amongst others before returning to Office of the Auditor General of the Federation where he rose to Director of Audit in 2005. As a Director he was at different occasions in charge of Revenue Audit Department, Project Monitoring and Evaluation Department and Ministries Audit Department from where he was made acting Auditor General of the Federation.

A chartered Accountant and member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Ogunsina graduated from University of Ibadan, majoring in Geography in 1978 and has attended several  trainings at home and abroad, notable among them are Human Resources Management, USA; Managing and Leading Strategic Change, London; Value for Money Audit, USA; Project Management, London; Computer Aided Project Management, USA and Re-Orientation Workshop for Directorate Level Officers of the Nigerian Federal Civil Service, Abuja.

As an accomplished Auditor, Ogunsina had wide working experience which exposes him to several countries to undertake Audit Examinations of books of accounts of the Nigerian Missions in Rome, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Zambia, Botswana, Russia, China, Geneva, and Switzerland amongst others he visited in the course of his work.

The new acting Auditor General of the Federation was also member of Investigation Committee of the National Insurance Commission, Abuja, Investigation committee of Free Zone Authority, Onne, River State, Investigation Committee of National Hospital, Abuja and similar panels set up by the government.

While Mr. Ogunsina may be delighted by the outpour of goodwill and prayers from his staff and admirers, he nevertheless remains calms, leaving his next fate and future engagement to the will of God Almighty.