Count on me to do my very best: CAG

President Jakaya Kikwete with Prof Mussa Assad after swearing him in as the new Controller and Auditor General at State House, Dar es Salaam, yesterday. In the background are Vice President Mohammed Gharib Bilal and Finance minister Saada Mkuya. PHOTO | ANTHONY SIAME 

By Mkinga Mkinga The Citizen Reporter

IN SUMMARY

Handing over at the National Audit Office headquarters, outgoing CAG Ludovick Utouh said he had prepared a 78-page dossier for the newly appointed CAG. Said Mr Utouh: “I hope it will help you understand the institution better but if you need my help at any time, I will be available.”

Dar es Salaam. The new Controller and Auditor General (CAG), Prof Mussa Assad, yesterday pledged to uphold the highest possible standards of professionalism in discharging his duties.

Speaking yesterday soon after taking the oath of office at State House, Prof Assad said he knows the expectations of Tanzanians were high and promised not to let down the nation and President Jakaya Kikwete—who trusted him with the important position. If anything, he added, Tanzanians and the Head of State should expect exemplary service from National Audit Office—and he has every reason to succeed because the office has enough competent staff.

Asked about the Tegeta escrow account audit and the hullabaloo it raised in Parliament, Prof Assad said he has not yet read the audit report and promised to comment in due course.

In her comments after the swearing in ceremony, Speaker of the National Assembly Anne Makinda said the public expects a professional job from him. “Most of our African countries are in transition and the CAG needs to build the system together with Parliament,” she said. “Only with a strong Controller and Auditor General’s office will the public benefit.”

Questioned about the task ahead for the Controller and Auditor-General, Finance minister Saada Mkuya Salum said she was optimistic that Prof Assad, who is a professional accountant, would foster development through the national audit office.

Handing over at the National Audit Office headquarters, outgoing CAG Ludovick Utouh said he had prepared a 78-page dossier for the newly appointed CAG. Said Mr Utouh: “I hope it will help you understand the institution better but if you need my help at any time, I will be available.”

The just-retired CAG summarised the functions of the office and administration matters within the organisation and the incoming CAG said he was happy that he would have an idea of where to start. A good number of high profile dignitaries attended the swearing-in ceremony as all three pillars of state were represented. President Jakaya Kikwete and Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda were present at the ceremony. Parliament was represented by both Speaker Anne Makinda and the Clerk, Dr Thomas Kashililah, while the judiciary was represented by Chief Justice Othman Chande.

Until his new appointment, Prof Assad taught in the Accounting Department of the University of Dar es Salaam’s Business School (UDBS).The Dean of UDBS, Prof Wineaster Anderson, said it was an honour for the school and university to produce a CAG and expressed confidence that he would live up to expectations.

She added: “Many of us at UDBS believe he’ll do a great job as CAG. He is a principled academician. When you trace his work, especially consultancies, you will see that he is qualified for the job.”

Mr Kashililah, the chairperson of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors and the vice chairperson, Mr Yona Killagane, said he was confident that Prof Assad was the right man for the demanding job. “He is a qualified professional accountant with experience across Africa,” Mr Killagane added. “He has also good interpersonal skills to get things done within a timeframe.I have high confidence in Prof Assad.”

Prof Assad is a Certified Professional Accountant with a doctorate in accounting from Southampton University. He has a Master’s degree in financial accounting from Dublin University (1991) and Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1988.

Dr Assad also chairs the governing boards/councils of the National Bank of Commerce and the Muslim University of Morogoro. He is a member and trustee of the National Social Security Fund, the Higher Education Students Loans Board and Tanzania Fertiliser Company.

The new CAG has undertaken major consultancy projects in public sector finance, business planning, financial modelling, education expenditure reviews and higher education financing at ministerial, international multilateral and bilateral organisationsand a number of major public firms.
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