ABSTRACT

The study was on the assessment of strategies for Enhancing Financial Accountability in Nigeria Local Government Councils through internal control,with special focus on Ikwuano Local government of Ahia State. The specific objectives of the study were to: examine the effect of record keeping on the accounting system in Ikwuano Local Government Council of Abia State; determine the effect of applying relevant accounting standards on financial accountability in Ikwuano Local Government Council of Abia State and ascertain the effect of auditing on fraud detection and control in Ikwuano Local Government Council of Abia State. To achieve these objectives, the simple random sampling method was used to select 80 respondents (being the sample size) from the study population. Primary data were gathered uing structured responses from the 80 respondents were received on time, screened and considered valid for use. The simple percentage was used to analyse respondent's data and responses to the questionnaire items while the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test hypotheses formulated. Findings from the study revealed that: effective record keeping has a significant effect on the accounting system in Ikwuano Local Government Council; application of relevant accounting standards bas a significant effect on the financial accountability in Ikwuano Local Government Council; and that effective auditing helps in fraud detection and control in Ikwuano Local Government Council These findings led to the conclusion that effective record keeping, application of relevant accounting standards and effective strategies capable of enhancing financial accountability in the Local Government Council. The implication of these results is that Local Government Councils that apply these strategies stand a better chance to achieve good results in thier operations. Recommendations made were: Local Government Councils should ensure they keep proper records of all their accounting transactions; local Government Councils should employ the services of qualify Internal and External Auditors for effective auditing of thier operations.