Delta Assembly Directs Local Government Councils On Future Budget Commitment

Delta State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of its Public Accounts Committee, directing the 25 local government councils in the state to ensure that more funds are allocated for capital projects to enable the citizens feel the impact of governance at the grassroots.

It also directed the Councils to ensure strict compliance of regulatory frameworks governing their operations.

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.

Presenting the seven paged report, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. James Augoye, also announced recommendation of the Committee that “local government councils in the state should intensify their internal revenue generation efforts through the use of Information Communication Technology, ICT, as well as draw up realistic budget and revenue targets to enhance their future performance”.

“All Accounts staff or schedule Officers be given proper and up to date training in order to curb the problem of improper book keeping, delay in rendition of General Purpose Financial Statements and regular updates of Bank Reconciliations” Augoye stated.

The Lawmaker who represents Okpe Constituency, said the Committee also saw the need for strict adherence of the provisions of the guidelines on the approval of advances to staff and projects.

He said “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 officer.

Honourable James Augoye presenting a report on Public Accounts at the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly

“The local government council should ensure that more funds are allocated for capital projects to enable the citizens feel the impact of governance at the grassroots”, Augoye emphasized.

He further stated that “Local government councils should ensure that non performing investments and dormant deposits should be written off. There should be a need for continuous audit of the local government accounts to ensure early identification of lapses and effecting possible corrections before final audit reports are issued.

Hon. Augoye who expressed appreciation of members to the leadership of the House, said the opportunity to interface with stakeholders gave them a true and fair view of the activities of various local government councils in the state, saying “the numerous observations raised by the Auditor General’s report and opinions expressed during the public hearings were quite revealing”.

The Lawmaker had in the findings and observations of the Committee, revealed that the sum of 71.2 billion naira accrued to the 25 local governments councils as revenue from all sources for the year ended 31st December 2022.

He said the approved budget estimates for same period under review summed up to 104.8 billion naira, representing 68 percent budget performance, which shown that funds received from the Federation Allocation Accounts Committee, FAAC and other sources were far lower than the approved budgets of the Councils.

Motion for the receipt of the Committee’s recommendations was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Emeka Nwaobi and adopted.

The Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, directed the Clerk of the House to ensure that the resolution of the State Legislature on the local government council account reached the Auditor General’s Office with immediate effect.

The Speaker commended the Public Accounts Committee for thorough review of 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.