Internal Audit Practices and Corporate Goal Attainment in Government Establishments: A Case Study of the College of Education, Akwanga

Abstract

Internal auditing serves as a critical mechanism for ensuring accountability, transparency, and efficiency in public sector institutions. This study examines the relationship between internal audit practices and corporate goal attainment in government establishments, focusing on the College of Education, Akwanga, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study reveals that internal control systems are fairly effective, with mean scores ranging from 3.3 to 3.9. However, challenges such as limited resources (4.1) and lack of management support (3.8) hinder internal audit effectiveness. The implementation rate of audit recommendations is moderate, with only 30% being fully implemented. To strengthen accountability mechanisms, it is recommended that management prioritizes resource allocation for internal audit units, provides training for audit staff, and ensures the timely implementation of audit recommendations. Additionally, establishing a robust risk management framework and enhancing communication between audit units and management can improve internal audit effectiveness.