The Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday disclosed it is not leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to ensure that the state government’s accounting system is tidy and complies with global best practices.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Kola Oluwawole spoke during the mid-term project review visit by the World Bank Public Sector Governance Reform and Development Project Team and officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Assembly in Ado-Ekiti.

According to a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, the Speaker observed that the House, through its Public Account Committee, has worked rigorously to ensure that heads of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) operate government’s accounts in accordance with the laid-down rules.

Since inauguration, the House, within this short time, has embarked on crucial oversight roles through its various committees, with the intention of holding the executive accountable for the performance of various sectors of the government.

The Public Accounts Committee has received 2014 Audit Report and it will commence proper scrutiny of the report as soon as it receives response from the Auditor-General’s office confirming circulation of the reports to the affected MDAs.

Based on the previous audit reports forwarded to it, the Public Accounts Committee has invited the state Auditor-General, Accountant-General, Commissioners and heads of departments for questioning. Erring MDAs and officials have also been probated and sanctioned accordingly.

Ekiti State House of Assembly has complied substantially with the requirements of World Bank through the passage of the following bills into laws: Public Procurement Law, Fiscal responsibility Law and Audit Law. Their passage into law has enhanced transparency and accountability in the management of the lean resources of the state,” Oluwawole said.

The Speaker promised that the House would continue to appreciate the roles of the World bank, one of which he added was the funding of the study tour of members of the Public Accounts Committee to the Lagos State Audit Service Commission, Lagos State Auditor-General’s office and the Lagos State House of Assembly Public Accounts Committee.

Leader of the World Bank Task Team, Mr Ikechukwu Nweje urged the House to ensure that effective Procurement System Council for projects implementation was put in place.

Nweje said the aim was to reduce corruption that was usually associated with effective utilisation of public fund and the reduction by 80 per cent the workload of the states Assembly.