The Delta State House of Assembly has asked local government councils in the state to formulate strategies to facilitate better financial controls and management procedures for a better socio-economic development.
The directive is sequel to adoption of all the seven recommendations by Hon James Augoye led Committee on Public Accounts on the review of the Auditor-General (Local Government) on the Consolidated Accounts of the 25 local government councils in the state for the year ended 31st December 2024.
The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon James Augoye, during Tuesday’s plenary of the House, presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.
The House directed the Councils to intensify and boost their internal revenue generation efforts to complement the revenue from statutory allocation through strategic planning and realistic budgeting to enhance their future performance.
It resolved that all personnel or schedule officers handling accounting duties and responsibilities should be trained and given relevant tools for enhanced performance in order to cub the problem of improper booking keeping, delay in rendition of General Purpose Financial Statements, maintain investment register and regular updates of Bank reconciliation with a view to achieving optimal results in the Council.
The Assembly also directed the Councils to adhere strictly to guidelines on approval of advances to staff on projects, stressing that advances more than six months should not be allowed and any officer with outstanding advance would require a written approval of the Executive Committee before further advance can be approved for such officer.
It drew attention to non implementation of the 2% monthly allocation met for the local government farm project, stressing that the fund should be set aside by the Councils as enshrined in the Delta State Local Government Law, 2013, to enable the people benefit from the MORE agenda.
The State Legislature also adopted the recommendation that the Office of the Auditor General (Local Government) should engage on continuous audit of local government accounts to ensure timely conduct of annual audit and prompt posting of financial transactions.
It however affirmed that the income and expenditure of the 25 local government councils as presented by the Auditor General (Local Government) are true and valid.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Augoye said the adopted recommendations were made after intensive scrutiny, aimed at strengthening financial accountability at the local government level.
He stated that the assignment was quite challenging but exciting, disclosing that the interface with the stakeholders gave a lot of insight and threw more light on some deficiencies on the part of the Councils.
Hon Augoye stated that the numerous observations raised in the Auditor General report and other opinions expressed at the public hearings, were quite satisfactory.
The Lawmaker expressed the Committee’s profound gratitude to the House for the opportunity to serve.