Appraised of Value-for-Money Audit of Government Expenditure on Projects/Programmes in Abia State

ABSTRACT

This study was motivated by the need to assess value-for-money-audit of Government expenditure on projects/programmes in Abia State. The study adopts ex-post facto and survey design. Data was obtained from community and social development projects (CSDP) a body that executes projects on behalf of Abia State Government and a private builder (Divine Real Estate) to ascertain cost. A modified four-point likert questionnaires which covered important issues of value for money audit were administered on 186 respondents drawn from Auditors and tax Payers from the three senatorial zones of Abia state. Correlation analysis and student T-test (paired sample) were used in analyzing the data. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between the cost of executing projects by public and private sectors in Abia State and furthermore, there exists a negative relationship between the cost of executing similar projects by both public and private managers. The researcher therefore concluded and recommended that government should ensure effective use of value for money audit which will help to bridge the gap in cost and hence bring about public satisfaction