The Ondo State House of Assembly has commenced scrutiny of the financial records of local governments in the state, warning officials against diverting internally generated revenue or keeping government funds in personal accounts.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, issued the warning on Monday in Akure during the committee’s three-day review of the 2023 and 2024 audited accounts of the councils.
Ogunwumiju said revenues collected by the local governments must be fully recorded and paid into authorised government accounts, stressing that public officials were expected to comply with financial regulations.
He declared that the Assembly would not support any practice capable of compromising the state’s revenue, adding that those entrusted with public funds must follow due process.
“We are protectors of revenue and income in Ondo State. We won’t encourage acts of illegality. There must be due process,” the chairman stated.
He explained that the exercise was aimed at clearing outstanding audit queries, identifying financial lapses and improving accountability in revenue collection, record-keeping and remittances at the grassroots.
The committee also directed the relevant authorities, particularly the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments, to strengthen oversight of council finances, while Ogunwumiju urged the councils to use the hearing to address identified shortcomings.
The Auditor-General for Local Governments, Charles Ojuolape, described the audit process as a constitutional requirement for independent examination of council finances and urged the councils to implement the recommendations in the reports. Six local governments appeared before the committee to answer questions arising from their audited accounts.
