The Auditor-General of Osun State, Kolapo Idris, has cautioned Permanent Secretaries and Accounting Officers against ignoring audit queries with a view to exhibiting transparency and accountability in the management of the state’s finances.

He issued the warning in Osogbo while presenting the report on the financial statements and accounts of the Osun State Government for the year 2024.

The event was attended by the members of Civil Society Organisations, leaders of market-based associations across the state, members of accounting professional bodies, representatives of People Living with Disabilities, and the media.

Idris stated, “I want to talk to my colleagues, the accounting officers, about your response to audit queries. It is a serious thing. Your response to query does not mean that you have satisfied issues raised in the query.

“At the same time, majority will choose not to even reply queries. Your files are coming to the Auditor General’s Office. Respond to audit queries. I am saying this so that your file does not stay in our office for a long time. Help my office.”

While commending Governor Ademola Adeleke for demonstrating transparency in utilising the state’s finances, Idris harped on the need for all stakeholders to key into such a standard to enhance prudent management of funds.

The auditor-general posited, “I must at this juncture commend the governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for handling the state finances with transparency. That has made our job easy. Government business is being conducted in a manner that makes it easy for us to do our job.”

Presenting the statements for the year 2024, Idris hinted that “I have audited the accounts of the Government of Osun State as at 31st December, 2024 as set out in Consolidated Statement of Financial Performance, Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow (direct and indirect), Consolidated Statement of Changes in net asset/equity, Consolidated Statement of Comparism of Budget and Actual and Notes to the accounts in accordance with Section 125 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 17 (a-i) of Osun State Audit Law 2019 (as amended).”

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Osun House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, Honourable Rasheed Lawal, observed that by presenting accounts publicly, the state had shown that there was nothing to hide regarding its finances.

He averred, “By presenting this account publicly, it demonstrates that there is no hidden agenda, either by the Executives or the Legislators. On behalf of the other members of the Public Accounts Committee, I encourage all participants and stakeholders to listen attentively and not hesitate to seek clarifications where necessary, but always in a manner that is constructive and unbiased.”