By Kanu Samuel
The Ondo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening financial transparency and accountability at the grassroots by enhancing the capacity of financial officers, accountants and administrative heads across local government councils.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Amidu Takuro, said the state would continue to equip key financial personnel with the technical competence required to prepare financial statements that are accurate, comprehensive and easily understood by stakeholders.
Takuro, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Igbekele Akinrinwa, spoke at the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop for auditors, accountants and salary/variation officers from local governments and local council development areas in Ondo State.
The workshop, themed “Preparation of General Purpose Financial Statements (GPFS): A Practical Approach in the Local Government System,” was organised by the Local Government Service Commission in collaboration with the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Government in Akure.
According to the commissioner, the training is aimed at deepening the state’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and improving financial reporting standards within the local government system.
He noted that the adoption of General Purpose Financial Statements (GPFS) would enhance accountability to both the electorate and oversight institutions, while supporting informed decision-making by council chairmen and policymakers.
“GPFS will strengthen audit credibility and reduce query rates, improve access to development financing and intergovernmental fiscal transfers, and build trust in the integrity of local government administration,” he said.
Takuro commended the Auditor-General for Local Governments and his team for their partnership, describing the office as a statutory safeguard for financial probity within the local government system.
He said the involvement of the Auditor-General’s office would ensure that participants receive practical knowledge rooted in audit expectations and regulatory compliance rather than theoretical instruction alone.
The commissioner also praised the collaboration between the Local Government Service Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General, describing it as a reflection of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to inter-agency cooperation in the public interest.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Local Government Service Commission, Dr Bayo Ilawole, said the workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of financial personnel and ensure compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
Ilawole described the commission’s workforce as its greatest asset, stressing that investment in professional development was essential for the future of the local government system.
“I wish to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to capacity building as a cornerstone of effective public service delivery,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of accountability in public finance management, he stressed that public funds must be properly utilised and accounted for.
“Any funds allocated for a specific project must be used for that purpose. Financial records must accurately reflect transactions and not be manipulated,” he said.
He added that prudent management of public resources would lead to improved service delivery at the grassroots, including better roads, quality education, enhanced healthcare services, security and other essential amenities.
Ilawole expressed confidence that the training would result in significant improvements in professional practice and financial management across local government councils in the state.
The Auditor-General for Local Governments, Mr Tunde Charles Ojuolape, delivered the first lecture of the workshop, focusing on the preparation of General Purpose Financial Statements.
Participants at the event expressed optimism that the knowledge and skills gained during the training would improve their efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out their duties across various local government areas in the state.
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