LASG TASKS ACCOUNTANTS, AUDITORS ON COLLABORATION, COMPLIANCE TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY
The Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Abayomi Oluyomi, has charged Directors and Heads of Finance and Accounts across the Lagos State Government as well as Auditors in the employ of the State Government, to strengthen collaboration beyond routine financial compliance and focus on performance, timeliness, insight and value for money in the management of public resources.
Oluyomi gave the charge on Friday, at the opening of a two-day retreat for Directors and Heads of Finance and Accounts in the Lagos State Government, organised by the State Treasury Office at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The Commissioner, who commended the Accountant-General and the State Treasury Office for organising the retreat, stressed that while compliance remained fundamental to sound public finance management, it should serve as a foundation for achieving improved performance.
According to him, “Compliance is the floor. Performance is the standard,” noting that accurate financial records, timely reconciliations, proper approvals and adherence to established financial regulations were essential to sustaining public confidence and Lagos State’s credibility with investors, rating agencies and development finance institutions.
He said the Public Finance Management Law, Fiscal Responsibility Law, accounting standards and Treasury circulars were designed not only to ensure proper management of public funds but also to protect officers entrusted with public resources.
Oluyomi urged Heads of Finance and Accounts to deliver monthly reconciliations, quarterly reports, and year-end financial statements promptly to support timely decision-making.
He also encouraged them to function as financial advisers to their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), providing management with useful insights into expenditure patterns, risks and resource utilisation.
The Commissioner called for stronger collaboration among the State Treasury Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and revenue-generating agencies, stressing the need for all stakeholders to work with a unified understanding of the State’s finances.
Speaking on the role of Artificial Intelligence in public financial management, Oluyomi said emerging technologies could assist finance professionals in analysing large volumes of transactions, identifying unusual payments, summarising complex documents and preparing reconciliation narratives.
He, however, cautioned officers against relying blindly on AI-generated outputs, emphasising that professional responsibility remained with the officer who certifies a financial record.
The Commissioner further urged participants to maximise the two-day retreat by engaging with facilitators, sharing experiences and identifying practical changes that could improve operations in their respective units.
He said the effectiveness of the State Government’s THEMES Plus development agenda depended significantly on attention to financial details, including properly reconciled accounts, timely reports and accurate accountability for public resources.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Treasury Office and State Accountant-General, Dr Adetola John, during his welcome address at the event, maintained that officers must see themselves as key contributors to the effectiveness of their respective MDAs rather than merely as personnel responsible for processing financial transactions.
He urged the participants to work together and ensure that no unit becomes a weak link in the State’s financial management system.
The call for greater teamwork was equally reinforced by other top government officials at the retreat, including the Auditor-General for Local Government, Mr Obafemi Ogunlana; Permanent Secretary, Office of Internal Audit, Mrs Monsurat Titilope Alaka; Acting State Auditor-General, Dr Olufunke Omolara Tayo-Makanjuola; and former Lagos State Accountant-General, Dr Abiodun Muritala.
The Permanent Secretaries stressed the importance of closer institutional cooperation in ensuring that public funds are managed efficiently and translated into tangible outcomes across infrastructure, social services and other areas of development.
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