Delta State House of Assembly has directed the 25 local government councils within the state to prioritize the allocation of funds toward capital projects. It also directed the councils to ensure strict compliance with regulatory frameworks governing their operations.
The Assembly adopted the recommendations of its Public Accounts Committee, to allocate more funds to capital projects, so citizens can feel the impact of governance at the grassroots level.
The House at its Tuesday’s resumed plenary, presided by the Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, received the report of the Hon James Augoye-led Committee on Public Accounts on the report of the Auditor General, Local Government, on the Separate Accounts of the 25 local government councils of Delta State for the year ended 31st December, 2022.
Augoye said that, “local government councils in the state should intensify their internal revenue generation efforts through the use of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, as well as draw up realistic budget and revenue targets to enhance their performance”.
“That all Accounts Staff or Schedule Officers be given proper and up to date training to ensure proper book keeping, check delay in rendition of General Purpose Financial Statements and regular updates of Bank Reconciliations.”
The Lawmaker, who represents Okpe Constituency further stated that “Advances of more than six months salaries should not be allowed and any officer with outstanding advance would require a written approval of the Executive Committee before further advances can be approved for such an officer.
“Local Government Councils should ensure that non performing investments and dormant deposits are written off. There should be a need for continuous audit of the local government accounts to ensure early identification of lapses and effecting of possible corrections before final audit reports are issued.
Revealing the financial scenario, the Lawmaker said the Committee in its findings, disclosed that the 25 local government Councils accrued 71.2 billion naira from various revenue sources for the year ended 31st December 2022.
He further noted that the approved budget estimates for same period under review summed up to 104.8 billion naira, representing 68 percent budget performance, which showed that funds received from the Federation Allocation Accounts Committee, FAAC and other sources were far lower than the approved budgets of the Councils.
The Assembly, upon a motion moved by Majority Leader Emeka Nwaobi, adopted the Committee’s recommendations.
Speaker Emomotimi Guwor further directed the Clerk of the House to ensure that the resolution of the State Legislature reached the Auditor General’s Office without delay. The Speaker commended the Public Accounts Committee for doing a thorough job.
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