PUBLIC SECTOR INTERNAL AUDITORS CONFERENCE 2019 CONCLUDES WITH LAUNCH OF PUBLIC SECTOR INTERNAL AUDITORS FORUM


Dates: September 30-September-2 October 2019; Venue: NIPAM
1.BRIEF
The first ever Public Sector Internal Auditors Conference was held in Windhoek from the 30th of September to the 2nd of October, spearheaded by NIPAM to respond to the growing needs of accountability within the public sector.
In the Namibian year of Accountability, which aligns with the public service charter, the Internal Audit function is at the forefront. This function (Internal Audit) is strategic in nature in that its functionaries are expected to adhere to professional code of ethics and therefore lead and exercise sound judgement by exercising internal controls and pointing out organizational risks without fear or favour to management and the leadership of Ministries Agencies and Its offices for findings to be addressed within scope and time.
Efficient public service delivery remains a challenge in Namibia, hence (NIPAM) through the establishment of the Public Sector Internal Auditors Forum organised this Conference bent on strengthening the foundation of the Namibian house in which all its residents have a sense of shared identity driven by the public sector values.

Currently out of 71, local authorities, village and regional councils only four have received unqualified (clean) audit opinions from the Auditor General, while the rest struggle with qualified audit opinions, adverse opinion and disclaimer of opinion.
According to Ms Maria Nangolo, NIPAM Executive Director, “NIPAM however holds the view that if the internal audit function is operationalized and capacitated within the set standards, the assumption is that there will be no qualified opinions. Thus, this conference provided internal auditors with guidance and the call to capacitate and empower the public sector internal auditors to execute their duties guided by the professional code of ethics, furthermore the Auditor General’s office which acts as the external auditors, their findings should receive the seriousness its deserves from the leadership of the Namibian house. We need to pull in unison and ought to hold each other accountable and sound a declarant loud and clear; that no more qualified audit opinions 2021/2022,” she said.

2.Establishing of a Public Sector Internal Auditors Forum:

The Conference closed off with the election of a first ever Public Sector Forum of Internal Auditors Executive Committee which will serve for a two year term.
The current Public Sector Interim Auditors Forum has been chaired by NIPAM Executive Director Ms Maria Nangolo, the Khomas Chief Regional Officer Mr. Clement Mafwila, representatives from the Public Accountants’ and Auditors Board (PAAB), representative from the Ministry of Finance, the Institute of Internal Auditors Namibia (IIA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN).

The new committee comprises of:
i.Kavii Tjivau: Kharas Regional Council
ii.Sebastian Munyaza: Zambezi Regional Council
iii.George Kake: Otjozondjupa Regional Council
iv.Kaino Kangoya: Omusati Regional Council
v.Endeline Iyambo: City of Windhoek

a)The objectives of the Public Sector Forum for Internal Auditors will include:

  • To provide best practices in internal audit within the regional and local authorities councils.
  • To share knowledge and information regarding the internal audit’s role, responsibility benefits of internal audit and different audit functions.
  • Providing a forum to discuss best practices in areas including quality control, auditing, independence, and training and continuing professional development;
3.NIPAM’s Role In Conference Deliverables
According to Ms Nangolo, a key component of the conference deliverables is for Namibia to have 60% unqualified audits by the 2021/2022 financial year from the current 8%. This will be realised through financial and leadership commitment from the different stakeholders at all levels.
NIPAM has committed to cooperating with the Auditor General’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in spearheading capacity building initiatives within the Finance Departments of the Public Sector, provided there is a financial and leadership buy-in by the local authorities and regional councils themselves.
Targeted interventions on capacity building will be done among others, through;
Refresher courses of the internal audit and finance divisions
Coaching and mentorship of staff within finance departments
Seminars for exchange and learning
Exchange visits to best performing regional councils and local authorities
4.Attached are the speeches and well informed presentations of:
Hon Dr. Peya Mushelenga, Minister of Urban and Rural Development (MURD)
Mr Goms Menette, Deputy Auditor General, Namibia