By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Ondo State House of Assembly has called for greater accountability and transparency in the management of public funds across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The call was made on Friday at the end of a three-day public hearing on the Auditor-General’s reports on the audited accounts of the councils for the 2023 and 2024 financial years.
The exercise was conducted by the House Committee on Public Accounts to address outstanding audit queries, resolve financial irregularities, and clear backlogs in council financial records.
Chairman of the Committee and Parliamentary Secretary of the House, Hon. Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, said the hearing enabled the Committee to scrutinize records from all LGAs and address queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments.
According to him, the Committee demanded a higher level of accountability from the councils, adding that all records presented were carefully examined to ensure proper accounting of public funds.
Hon. Ogunwumiju commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to accountability in the local government system and for allowing the Committee to discharge its duties independently without interference.
He noted that ongoing reforms in the local government system have improved governance, stressing that the hearing was aimed at consolidating the progress recorded.
He disclosed that there has been an improved level of accountability and a reduction in audit queries, indicating that councils are becoming more conscious of proper financial management.
However, he stressed that there is still room for improvement and expressed optimism that subsequent reviews will show further progress.
The Chairman said the Committee will require all 18 LGAs to provide a comprehensive breakdown of contractors and consultants engaged in the collection of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to ensure transparency in the flow and management of public funds.
He added that while no sharp practices were detected in the course of examining IGR records, every inflow and expenditure must be properly documented, clear, traceable and accountable.
Members who participated in the exercise included the Vice Chairman, Barr. Stephen Abitogun, Barr. Felix Afe, Dr. Christopher Ogunlana, and Hon. Sulaiman Murtala, among others.
Hon. Ogunwumiju appreciated members for their support, objectivity and cooperation throughout the exercise, as well as the local governments and relevant authorities for their cooperation.
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