The Lagos State House of Assembly has begun a two-week review of the 2024 financial records of the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
The exercise, which began on Tuesday, is being conducted by the House Committee on Public Accounts (Local), with council chairmen and relevant officials expected to respond to queries contained in the Auditor-General’s statutory inspection report.
The review covers the councils’ financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2024, with lawmakers examining how revenues accruing to the councils were utilised and whether expenditure was properly documented and accounted for.
The committee commenced the exercise with officials from Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ikeja, Oriade and Ifako-Ijaiye local councils.
The chairman of the committee, Nureni Akinsanya, said the exercise formed part of the Assembly’s statutory responsibility to scrutinise the Auditor-General’s report and ensure that public funds entrusted to the councils were properly accounted for.
Akinsanya said council chairmen and other relevant officials would be required to address outstanding issues raised in the report and provide documentary evidence to support their explanations.
“The exercise is not intended as a witch-hunt, but rather to enable the committee to discharge its statutory responsibilities objectively, transparently and without bias,” he said.
He said the committee would examine both revenue and expenditure records before submitting its findings and recommendations to the House.
“The committee would particularly ascertain whether revenues accruing to the councils during the period under review were judiciously utilised and properly accounted for, while expenditures would also be subjected to thorough scrutiny,” Akinsanya said.
The committee chairman directed council officials to co-operate with the lawmakers and ensure that requested documents, financial records and explanations were provided promptly.
He said the committee’s findings and recommendations would be presented to the full House for consideration and any necessary action.
The exercise is expected to continue with officials from the remaining local governments and LCDAs appearing before the committee during the two-week review period.
