The Oyo State House of Assembly has commenced a probe into the Auditor-General’s reports on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Local Government Areas in the state as part of efforts to strengthen accountability in the management of public funds.
The exercise, being conducted by the House Committee on Public Accounts, will review audit reports covering 2020, 2021 and 2022 for MDAs, while the financial activities of local government councils for 2023 and 2024 will also be examined. The public hearing, expected to last two weeks, is holding at the Caucus Room of the Assembly Complex in Ibadan.
Chairman of the Committee, Olusola Owolabi, said the exercise is aimed at correcting past anomalies in public spending and ensuring transparency in government financial management. He explained that the Assembly is acting within the provisions of Sections 85(5–6), 128 and 129 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empower lawmakers to scrutinise public income and expenditure.
Owolabi, who represents Ibadan North-East State Constituency II, noted that the committee would review responses from MDAs and local government authorities to audit queries raised by the Auditor-General, warning that officials found culpable could be referred to anti-corruption agencies for further investigation.
A member of the committee, Olasunkanmi Babalola, also cautioned that any case involving misappropriation, unauthorised spending, diversion of funds or contract irregularities would attract sanctions. He stressed that the review process is a constitutional responsibility of the Assembly and not a political exercise.
Other members of the Public Accounts Committee include Gbenga Oyekola, Abiodun Babalola and Johnson Ogundele.
Meanwhile, the Clerk of the House, Adenike Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, represented by the Deputy Clerk (Legal), Mrs. Aderonke Ogundeji, urged invited MDAs and local government officials to cooperate fully with the committee, noting that the exercise is intended to strengthen financial accountability rather than witch-hunt any individual or agency.
 as well as Local Government Areas in the state as part of efforts to strengthen accountability in the management of public funds.){kind=link}