A five day workshop for members of the Public Accounts Committee of the Delta State House of Assembly has opened in Asaba, with a charge on participants to see the training program as a source of added value to increase their efficiency.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Sherrif Oborevwori, while declaring the workshop open, said the training was part of measures of strengthening transparency and accountability in the governance of Delta State.
Organized by the World Bank, European Union, in collaboration with the Delta State Government through the State Employment and Expenditure for Results, SEEFOR project, the workshop has as it theme “strengthening the capacity of the Public Accounts Committee, to perform oversight functions”.
The Speaker said the Public Accounts Committee is one of the highly empowered committees of the Assembly established by sections 85 and 125 of the 1999 constitution as amended to help the Legislature achieve its mandate of ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance.
Rt Hon Oborevwori stated that besides the issue of transparency and accountability, the Public Accounts Committee is also empowered to examine the Auditor-General reports of both state and local government councils.
He noted that the strategic role of the committee cannot be overemphasized, considering its value chain in the legislature in particular and the state at large.
The Speaker described the workshop as timely as it was being organized at a time when Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government were preparing their 2021 budget estimates.
Rt Hon Oborevwori charged the lawmakers to ensure that the knowledge gained at the workshop reflect in their official duties as legislature.
The chairman of the committee, Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri said the workshop was geared towards deepening the knowledge of members on how to improve their oversight functions.
The Lawmaker stated that the training program will attempt to correct the impression that Public Accounts Committee is only a post mortem body, saying that the concept of public financial management and control of public funds would also be discussed in the workshop.
Hon Elekeokwuri who represents Ika North East in the House, disclosed that a template that will serve as a working tool for the committee will be produced at the end of the programme.
He pledged the commitment of members towards transparency and accountability in the management of public funds in the state.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee and Member Representing Uvwie constituency in the House, Hon Solomon Ighrakpata said the workshop would further broaden the knowledge of the committee members in carrying out their oversight functions.