The Public Accounts Committees (PAC) of the Lagos State House of Assembly has began a search for ministries, departments and agencies under apprehension in alignment with the State Auditor-General’s report for 2021.
Hon Saka Solaji, chairman of the committee unveils this on Wednesday when he received the first set of government officials that were called in to respond to queries in their report.
While describing PAC as a satutory establishment of sections 125 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is amende, he stated that the committee serves as a vital instrument of check and accountability in the legislative sectors at both the state and federal levels.
According to section 125(2) and section 129(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly has the right to summon any person in Nigeria to give proof at any place or provide documents and other things in his ownership or under his control and examine him as witness. The Committee also has the right to require him to provide any document or possessions under his control.
“Therefore in alignment with the need for efficiency and best practices in a pursuit of its statutory objectives, the Public Account Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly is set to commence deliberation and consideration of the audited reports of the State Auditor-General on the account of the Lagos State Government for the previous year, 2021. This responsibility has been trusted to the committee for proper deliberation,” he said.
Solaji noted that the search will cover economic activities carried out by ministry departments and agencies of government between January 1 to December 31, 2021. The objectives of the committee is to assemble all heads of the indicated MDAs and to seek clarity concerning the complaint raised in the Auditor-General’s report to enhance service delivery in the state.
The exercise will confirm the completion, accuracy and reliability of the financial transactions within the sectors and confirm the level of compliance with financial regulations, relevant and legislations and accounting standards and reflect on each sector’s financial performance and position.
He concluded with these words: “in addition, the committee will confirm the revenue and budget performances of all MDAs, capital expenditure, reconciliation of the financial records with the Oracle system of the MDAS and ascertain the project management and control systems of MDAs in Lagos State.”
