Ondo Assembly begins public hearing on Auditor-General’s Reports
…115 MDA’s to Appear Before Public Accounts Committee
By Oyeniwa Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly has commenced a public hearing on the Auditor-General’s reports on the accounts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the years 2021 to 2023.
The eight-day exercise, organised by the House Committee on Public Accounts and chaired by the House Parliamentary Secretary, Hon. Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, is aimed at addressing and clearing backlog issues in the financial records of government establishments.
No fewer than 115 MDAs are expected to appear before the committee during the period.
In his opening remarks, Ogunwumiju explained that the sitting was in line with Section 125(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers the legislature to examine the Auditor-General’s reports and ensure proper accountability in the management of public funds.
He emphasised that the objective of the exercise was not to witch-hunt any individual or agency, but to strengthen financial management systems and promote transparency in public service.
According to him, the committee is determined to work collaboratively with all government institutions to entrench probity, accountability and discipline in the management of public resources across the state.
Ogunwumiju therefore urged all MDAs to cooperate fully with the committee and take advantage of the process to correct lapses, improve their financial procedures and enhance service delivery to the people of Ondo State.
He also stressed the need for prompt retirement of public funds collected by civil servants, charging accounting officers to remain diligent in their responsibilities and ensure proper documentation and record-keeping in their various establishments.
The chairman further assured that the committee would work assiduously to clear the backlog of outstanding audit queries in line with global best practices and the principles of transparency and accountability in governance.
Speaking earlier, the State Auditor-General, Mr. Sunday Adegoke, said the reports submitted to the House were the result of thorough professional auditing processes carried out by his office.
Adegoke noted that the detailed reports were designed to assist the committee in its oversight functions and to ensure accurate assessment of financial operations within the various MDAs.
He commended the House of Assembly for its continued support to the Office of the Auditor-General and expressed confidence that the collaboration between both institutions would further strengthen accountability mechanisms in the state’s public sector.
The Auditor-General added that his office remains committed to upholding financial discipline and will continue to work closely with the legislature to achieve transparency, efficiency and responsible management of government resources in Ondo State.
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