By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has reconciled and waived 55 cases amounting to N3,368,400,160 Billion in the 2016 audited account of the state while nine cases amounting to N437,900 representing 0.013% were still pending as inconclusive cases.
This was contained in the audited account of the state as ratified by the House for the year ended 31st December, 2016.
This follows the adoption of the report of the Public Accounts Committee of the House presented by the Chairman, Mr. Friday Iwok, member representing Abak state constituency during yesterday plenary.
Iwok while submitting the report explained that, the Auditor General’s findings and recommendations in the audit report was published in one volume.
He said, “At the end of the painstaking exercise, the committee upheld and confirmed the state Auditor General’s recommendations in respect of ten cases involving the sum of N259,435 (Two Hundred and Fifty-nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty-Five Naira), which was fully recovered from the affected persons and remitted to government election revenue accounts accordingly”.
The Committee in its observation noted that, Ministries, Departments
and Agencies of government have embraced the arts of prompt retirement of imprest and proper records keeping as recommended by the committee.
The lawmakers also advised the State Accountant General to always ensure that qualified and experienced accounting personnel are assigned to head the accounting departments in order to minimize errors occasioned by inexperienced and unqualified staff.
The House in its resolution commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for prudent management of state funds as appropriated by the House of Assembly, and the zeal in ensuring that both the recurrent and capital expenditures of Akwa Ibom State for the year were within the limits of the approved budget.
Earlier, the Speaker, Mr. Onofiok Luke, said that, the ratification by the House was an indication of its commitment to promoting fiscal responsibility and accountability by the current administration.
He commended the governor for his transparency in the management of state funds, adding that, the House through its over sight duties ensures that, Akwa Ibom people gets nothing less, than accountability from the government.
“Transparency and accountability were in the heart of the campaign by
this administration when it sought the people’s mandate in 2015.
Almost three years down the road, there are clear pointers to the fact
that this government has lived true to its promises”, he added.
“The consideration of the House Committee on Public Account on Audited Account of the Akwa Ibom State Government today is aimed at ensuring prudence in the management of the state’s resources in line with Section 128 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
1999 (as amended).
He requested the Auditor General to afford the House the opportunity
to act more promptly on the 2017 audited report of the state by sending it in early enough.
