ABSTRACT

This study is to examine the Evaluation ofFinancial Control and Accountability in the Public Sector: A Study ofMinistry ofFinance, Abia State. The specific objectives are to; ascertain to what extent compliance with financial regulations can help government in achieving set goals and objectives, determine the effect offinancial control onfrauddetection in government circles, establish standardandappropriate financial systemfor recording and extractingfinancial information. To achieve the objectives of the study survey research design was adopted and data collected through the distribution ofquestionnaire among staffs ofthe ministry who havejob experience. The findings revealed that presentfinancial control measures such as the prudential guidelines by ministry offinance ofAbia state are competent to provide the needed control onfraud detection, the study also indicated that there is a positive relationship between financial control on fraud detection, the level of system failure which includes electronic and organizational systems and the environment has a negative effect on the evaluation offinancial control and accountability. The study recommends that There is need to install a sound system of internal check. Duties should be properly segregated, clearly defined, and assigned to differentperson or group ofpersons. Duties such as recording, custody, payment etc. should be handled by separate persons and units, the different units responsibleforfinancial control and accountability must not work at cross road but in unism, every organization should clearly spell out their ethics which shouldguide the behavior ofemployees in the organization and ensure thatpunishment is matted out to anyonefoundflouting it.