Osun State Speaker Advocates Probity and Openess among Financial Experts
Samuel Abioye and Dapo Owolabi
The Honourable speaker of Osun State House of Assembly , Rt Honourable Adewale Egbedun has challenged financial officers in government ministries, departments and agencies to make financial openness and transparency their watchword.
Rt Honourable Egbedun made this assertion while declaring open the 2024 Stakeholders Retreat jointly organised by Public Accounts Committee of the Osun State House of Assembly and The Supreme Audit Institutions Osun State.
The retreat which was held at Admus Hotel Ede with the theme “Enhancing Public Trust, Probity, and Transparency in the Third Tier of Governance had Financial experts from both State and Local Government in attendance..
In his own contribution Hon. Lawal Bamidele Rasheed: Chairman Public Accounts Committee praised the effort of Governor Ademola Adeleke for the massive developmental projects and programmes embarked upon throughout the state without borrowing.
He implored financial experts in the state to make efforts in strengthening public trust,probity and transparency in order to enhance good governance.
Alhaji Ishaq Awotunde; the State Auditor General for Local Government government in his welcome remark posited that his agency is aimed at strengthening the third tier of government in building public trust, transparency, accountability and enhanced public confidence in the spending of public funds at the grassroots in line with laws as passed by Osun state House of Assembly and the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria
The Moderator of the event and the immediate past Auditor General for Local Government
Pastor Emmanuel Kolapo emphasized the fact that poverty is a monster while corruption is an epidemic but public trust will enhance participatory Governance.
He emphasized the need for promotion of good governance through Transparency, Probity and public trust and he challenged financial stakeholders to be up and doing in the discharge of their duties.
The Clerk of the House of Assembly while reviewing the operation of Public Account Committee in the State House of Assembly highlighted the importance of the roles of Public Account Committee as a statutory one which is saddled with the responsibility of curbing financial recklessness in the state
The Auditor General for State,Alhaji Idris Kolapo also stated that Governor Adeleke”s Administration has been so prudent in financial management.
He further charged the public to confirm financial operation of this administration either from his office or that of the Accountant General for the state in order to avoid misinformation.
Alhaji Akeem Bello, Permanent Secretary ,Ministry of Finance who represented the state Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina advised financial experts to supports the good vision of the present administration in order to make Osun stand out among comity of states.
The Director of Local Government and Inspectorate Alhaji Tajudeen Adelabu who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Dosu Babatunde and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Mr Femi Ogundun admonished participants to see the retreat as an eye opener for financial experts to collectively pursue public trust in governance.
Present at the occasion were the members of House committee on Public Account ,Forum of Directors in the Local Government,Members of staff from the office of Auditor General for Local Government and state among others
