Ekiti Assembly Moves To Ensure Transparency In Government Finances

By Ayodele Oni

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has demanded from agencies of government annual financial returns of their audited accounts.

The House Committee on Public Accounts emphasized the need for a yearly audit check of financial records of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for thorough accountability and judicious expenditure of government funds.

The Committee Chairman, Adeoye Aribasoye, spoke in Ado Ekiti during the consideration of the domestic report of the Auditor-General on the accounts of government of Ekiti State for the year ended 31st December, 2022.

Aribasoye, said the committee frowned at the attitude of some ministries that are not keeping an up-to-date record, saying that the exercise was borne out of the need at ensuring transparency and to know how funds appropriated to MDAs at the beginning of every financial year was put to use.

The Chairman, assured that the Committee was not out to witch hunt any one, but would not fail in its primary mandate of ensuring and scrutinizing that there is value for public money, efficiency, effectiveness and that fund appropriated are expended on what they are meant for.

Aribasoye however said the Committee would ensure that areas where there are infractions and deficiencies are worked on and corrected.

He commended the Office of the Auditor-General and various ministries and agencies for the cooperation and the  improvement witnessed so far in the Auditor-General’s report as at December 2021, compared to previous years.

The State Auditor-General, Mr. Adeuya Victor Oluwole in his contribution, stated that he would ensure transparency and accountability within the operations of financial management of Ekiti State and timely reporting to the legislature to enable it ascertain how the resources entrusted to government establishments are being utilized.

He maintained that his office would not hesitate to query MDAs whose financial records are questionable and riddled with infractions.