The Delta House of Assembly has directed the state Auditor-General to ensure that money accruable to the state government be left in its Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The decision of the assembly followed the report presented during plenary on Tuesday in Asaba by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Account, Anthony Elekeokwurie on the report of the Auditor-General of the state on the accounts of the state for 2016, 2017 and 2018 financial years.
Presenting the committee’s report, Elekeokwurie recalled that the Auditor-General had earlier submitted his report on the accounts of the state government for the three years.
He said sequel to the report, which was presented at plenary on October 9, 2019 for consideration and upon the adoption the report was referred to the Public Account Committee for review.
”At our first meeting, the committee collected and studied related approved budget alongside other documents and we observed that the office of the Auditor-General complied with and adopted the current reporting standards as spelt out by the International Financial Accounting Standards and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
”An in-depth study of the state government fiscal strategy paper and the medium term expenditure framework for the relevant periods threw light on the policy direction of the state government in the years under consideration.
”The report showed that the state government performed credibly well in the periods under review.
“Importantly, the budget performance of the state government witnessed significant growth in 2017 and 2018 financial years in spite of the decline in revenue that was observed in 2016.
”As a committee, we therefore recommend that Ministries, Departments and Agencies should also constitute their various ministerial audit committees in compliance with Section 14 of the Delta State Audit Law, 2018.
”We also recommended that realistic revenue estimates, projections should be made during preparation of annual budgets. This is achievable through the adoption of a revenue generation management template for MDAs.
”There is also a need for audit exit meetings to be held annually between the office of the Auditor-General of the State and MDAs to resolve all observations, queries.
”The heads of boards and parastatals should ensure that annual statutory reports are timely submitted to the office of the Auditor-General and the state House of Assembly for adequate statutory checks and financial control,” he said.
Consequently, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Tim Owhefere moved a motion for the adoption of the recommendations of the committee
The motion, which was unanimously adopted by the assembly when it was put to voice vote by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oboriovwori and seconded by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Christopher Ochor.