Oyebanji releases LG funds, commends auditors

Ekiti Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, said his administration had released all monies accruable to the 16 Local Government Councils from the Federation Account since assuming office about seven months ago.

Oyebanji stated this while receiving the Auditor-General for Local Government, Dr Iyadunni Oke, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

He noted that local government administrators no longer had reason not to develop their areas.

He said that his administration had given necessary approval for people-oriented projects expected to be carried out by the local government councils which would also be monitored regularly by a team from his office to ensure compliance.

The governor said, “I decided to invite the ALGON chairman here so that he will listen to my own view on this matter.

“Since we came to office and now, we have released all the monies meant for local governments to them and I know that all the local governments have been given approval for one project or the other.

“Just two weeks ago, we set up a monitoring team from my office to go and inspect the status of all these projects.

“I also hope with respect to both the capital expenditure and the recurrent, the audit department is also doing its job because local government is so critical to service delivery. They are the nearest to the people.”

Oyebanji commended the crop of quality auditors at both state and local government levels for their commitment and dexterity at delivering quality service.

He said that this had led to efficient management of the state’s resources and exposure of shady deals.

He stressed the need for top civil servants to mentor younger ones that would effectively take their positions when they eventually bow out of service and ensure continuity of quality service delivery in all sectors.

“I will like to place on record that accountability is very key to service delivery.

“That is why your office is so critical to the delivery and implementation of the six pillars development agenda.

“I must say this openly that the quality of auditors we have at the state and the local government levels are top-notch. I can vouch for their integrity,” Oyebanji said.

Earlier, the State Auditor-General for Local Government, Dr Iyadunni Oke, thanked the governor for appointing her to that exalted position.

Oke promised to carry out the responsibilities of that position to bring improvement to the state’s accounts as well as ensure continued commitment of rank and file members of her office.

The auditor-general, who is also the first female to occupy the position noted that actualisation of the six pillars of this administration would require a virile and effective auditing.

She noted that it should be auditing that would be hinged on monitoring of both financial and personnel budget of all local government and Local Council Development Areas,

Oke noted that the six pillars development agenda would ensure that due process was followed in all the activities of the state.

She also noted that there should be value for money in all programmes and policies of government.

Oke stressed the importance of effective auditing in all government undertakings; occasional investigation of the special programmes of government; and training and retraining of all auditors in the state to ensure success of all government policies.