Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has said that local government administrators in the state no longer have reason not to develop their areas.
He disclosed that his administration has released all monies accruable to the 16 local government councils from the Federation Account since assuming office about seven months ago.
Governor Oyebanji who stated this while receiving the Auditor-General for Local Government, Dr (Mrs) Iyadunni Oke in his office added that his administration had given necessary approval for people-oriented projects expected to be carried out by the local government councils.
The approved projects, according to him, would also be monitored regularly by a team from his office in order to ensure compliance.
He said, “I decided to invite the ALGON chairman here so that he will listen to my own view on this matter, since we came to office and now, we have released all the monies meant for local governments to them and I know that all the local governments have been given approval for one project or the other.
“Just two weeks ago, we set up a monitoring team from my office to go and inspect the status of all these projects. I also hope with respect to both the capital expenditure and the recurrent, the audit department is also doing their job because the local government is so critical to service delivery, they are the nearest to the people.”
While commending the crop of quality Auditors being paraded at both state and local government levels for their commitment and dexterity at delivering quality service, he said such had led to efficient management of the state’s resources and exposure of shady deals.
The governor stressed the need for top civil servants to mentor younger ones that would effectively take their position when they eventually bow out of service and ensure continuity of quality service delivery in all sectors.
Earlier, the State Auditor-General for local government, Dr Iyadunni Oke, who thanked Governor Oyebanji for appointing her to that exalted position, promised to carry out the responsibility of that position to bring improvement to the state’s accounts as well as ensure continued commitment of rank and file members of her office.
