Anambra State House of Assembly on Wednesday said its Public Account Committee (PAC) is not created to witch-hunt any Ministry, Department or Parastatal in the state but to ensure transperacy, accountability and probity.
The Committee Chairman, Noble Igwe stated this when Ministry of Power and Water Resources appeared before the Committee on oversight and review of the audit account of the state government for 2022.
He said, “We’re not here to witch hunt anybody. Our target is to ensure probity and judicious use of funds. We’re interested in looking at the papers vis-a-vis appropriation law and audited accounts and juxtapose them to confirm their authenticity with the law.
“For example, you can’t appropriate what’s meant for borehole for electricity. It’s not done. We have specifics in our budget to ensure funds allocated for each purpose are used for such.”
Expressing satisfaction with the Ministry’s performance, Igwe however identified certain gray areas their payment vouchers did not tally with the audited accounts, urging the Commissioner to go back to cross-check his records ahead of next sitting.
Reacting, Commissioner for Power and Water resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka described the process as laudable which he said was intandem with the current administration.
He said, “I’m glad to have appeared before the committee which is in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s promise to the people of the state to run a transparent and accountable administration.
“I’m also satisfied with the way members of the committee drilled the process down to micro level to ensure transperacy and accountability for residents of the state.
“The issue of accounting also entails committee members visiting the project locations to see for themselves exactly what’s on ground which we’ll furnish them with the lists.
“Beyond the supervision done by other government parastatals, it will also be good that House of Assembly members,a as representatives of the people visit the sites to have first hand information on what the ministry did.”
Other ministries that appeared before the committee included that of Culture and Tourism as well as Sports.
