Editor
The Ekiti State House of Assembly, has advocated annual Audit of all government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) financial records, to curtail corrupt practices like mismanagement , diversion and plundering of of the public funds.
The House emphasized that a consistent yearly audit check of MDAs’ financial records would engender strict compliance with the ethos of accountability, transparency and openness in the management of public funds.
The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts and member representing Ikole Constituency II , Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, said this on Thursday, during the consideration of the domestic report of the Auditor-General on the accounts of the Ekiti State government for 2021 fiscal year.
Hon. Aribasoye frowned at the lukewarm attitude of some ministries to keeping up- to- date records for government to plug all loopholes where public funds were being pilfered at the detriment of the masses.
Hon Aribasoye, who doubles as the Assembly’s Chief Whip, said inconsitent yearly audit of accounts would make it difficult for government to monitor the performances of the MDAs in relation to financial regulations and fiscal discipline.
His words: “This defence was borne out of the need to ensuring transparency and to know how funds appropriated to MDAs at the beginning of every financial year were utilised.
“This Committee was not out to witch-hunt anybody, but the assembly will not fail in its oversight functions, which mandates the scrutinizing of all financial records, so that the state can get a value for any public money expended on projects, ensure efficiency, effectiveness and that all funds appropriated are spent on what they were allocated.
“We commend 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 Dec. 2021, compared to the previous years.
“However, this Committee would ensure that areas where there are infractions and deficiencies in how appropriated monies were spent are worked upon and corrected accordingly in the interest of the masses”.
The State Auditor-General, Mr. Adeuya Victor Oluwole, stated that his role is to ensure transparency and accountability within the operations of financial management of Ekiti state,promising harmonious relationship with the legislature, to enable it ascertain how the resources entrusted to government establishments have been utilized.
He maintained that his office would not hesitate to query MDAs, whose financial records are questionable and infracted.
The representatives of Ministries, Department and Agencies present at the audit report consideration which included, the Ministry of Education; Education Trust Fund; Accountant General; Ministry of Budget; Housing Corporation and the Central Medical Store, all pledged to always do the needful and follow due process in their financial expenditure to ensure government achieve it’s aim of good governance.
