Nov. 25, 2024

Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday began probing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) indicted in the 2023 Auditor-General’s Report.

The Chairman, House Committee on Public Account (State), Mr Kehinde Joseph, made this known when the committee received the first set of government officials summoned to respond to queries raised in the report.

The exercise is tagged: “Consideration of Y2023 Auditor-General’s Report of the Lagos State Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies”.

Joseph said that the three-day exercise would cover from Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023, and would review economic activities of all the state’s MDAs.

The chairman said that heads of indicted MDAs would be requested to clarify issues raised in the report to enhance service delivery.

According to him, the annual probe is important.

Joseph said that the assembly was committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in the management of public funds and other resources.

He said that the Public Account Committee was empowered by the 1999 Constitution to review, monitor and supervise government agencies, programmes and activities.

“Furthermore, Section 125, subsection 2 and Section 129, subsection 1c of the 1999 Constitution grants the committee the authority to summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence and produce documents.”

He also said that the Constitution empowered the committee to examine such a person.

“Therefore, this committee is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in the management of public funds and resources.

“It is to ascertain completion, accuracy and reliability of financial transactions, confirm compliance with financial regulations, legislations and accounting standards.

“The committee will also review the financial performance, the position of each sector, confirm revenue and budget performances of all MDAs,” he said.

Joseph said the committee would examine capital expenditure budgets and reconciliation of financial records with the oracle system, and assess project management and control system of MDAs in the state.

He added that the committee would focus on fixed asset register aimed at ensuring accurate recording and valuation of assets to prevent mismanagement and loss.

The chairman said that the committee
would also check abandoned projects, identifying and resolving stored projects to maximise public investment.

He said that the essence of the probe was also to investigate and address projects that had been ongoing for an extended period.

Joseph urged the MDAs to remember that public expectations on them were high as they had been recognised as a model for probity and accountability in governance by other states.

He gave the assurance that findings from the probe and recommendations would be compiled and forwarded to the House of Assembly for deliberations.

The probe is conducted annually by the committee. (NAN)