The Delta State House of Assembly has directed local government councils across the state to strengthen financial controls and adopt improved management procedures to drive sustainable socio-economic development.
The directive followed the adoption of all seven recommendations presented by the Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Hon. James Augoye, on the review of the Auditor-General (Local Government)’s report on the consolidated accounts of the 25 local government councils for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Presenting the report during Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, Hon. Augoye explained that the recommendations were designed to enhance accountability and improve financial performance at the grassroots.
The House urged councils to intensify internal revenue generation to complement statutory allocations, through strategic planning and realistic budgeting.
It also resolved that accounting personnel and schedule officers be adequately trained and equipped to address issues of improper bookkeeping, delays in preparing General Purpose Financial Statements, irregular bank reconciliations, and poor maintenance of investment registers.
On staff project advances, the Assembly stressed strict compliance with approval guidelines, warning that advances exceeding six months should not be permitted.
It further resolved that officers with outstanding advances must obtain written approval from the Executive Committee before any new advance could be granted.
The House also expressed concern over the non-implementation of the statutory 2% monthly allocation for local government farm projects, as provided in the Delta State Local Government Law, 2013.
It emphasized that strict adherence to this provision would enable communities benefit more from the state government’s MORE agenda.
In addition, the Assembly adopted the recommendation that the Office of the Auditor-General (Local Government) should engage in continuous auditing of council accounts to guarantee timely annual audits and prompt posting of financial transactions.
While affirming the validity of the income and expenditure reports of the 25 councils as presented by the Auditor-General, Hon. Augoye noted that the recommendations emerged after thorough scrutiny, public hearings, and stakeholder engagements.
He described the assignment as “challenging but rewarding,” adding that the deliberations provided valuable insights into deficiencies within council financial systems. He expressed the committee’s appreciation to the House for the opportunity to serve.
