Fiscal Transparency: Osun Govt Working To Improve Process

……as Bola Oyebamiji harps on accountability in governance

By Kingsley Omoyeni

As part of efforts to aggregate all accounts belonging to the state, make budgetary provisions easier and create room for transparency in governance, the Adegboyega Oyetola administration is looking to monitor all financial transactions of the state through a single software.

Known as the Osun Treasury Single Account Software, the platform when fully operational will aid and naturally make all stakeholders involved in governance do what they are supposed to do seamlessly and efficiently without cutting corners.

Addressing some government stakeholders at his office during a presentation on Friday, the Supervisor for Finance, Mr Bola Oyebamiji stated that the software when fully operational will serve as check for everybody involved in governance as what comes in and out of the state treasury will be laid bare for all to see.

He added that the measure will assist all agencies of government to know the remaining balances on their budget provision before any of such agency raise a memo to the governor demanding for funds from the treasury.

Oyebamiji who stressed that good governance all over the world is all about transparency and accountability explained further that the system will help check sharp practices by government officials as no agency or individual will be able to raise a memo for money without the governor knowing if such agency has the capacity within its budget balance to obtain such funds or not.

He added that while raising the memo from any of the agency, a document stating the budget balance of such Ministry or agency will be attached to the memo for the governor to see while the state executive may then decide to do an additional check through the software on any of his device.

According to Oyebamiji, “As a state, we need to move with time. Governance all over the world is about transparency and accountability, and there are a lot of technology out there which we can use to aid the process of transparency and that is what we are trying to do in the state of Osun.

“We want a situation whereby all stakeholders involved in governance will know that they are being watched, this will make everyone to do the right thing all the time. Gone are the days when government officials weather public servants or political office holders will do whatever they like with public funds.

“The Adegboyega Oyetola administration is keen on moving a step further in the running of a transparent government and that is why he is looking for a means whereby everybody in governance will be under the watch of one person or the other.

“This software we are working on will lay bare all monies belonging to the state, you will be able to see at a glance what comes in and goes out and raise questions where appropriate. Government will no longer be run like a charity or private enterprise but like a purposeful venture which will be for the benefit of all Osun people.

“We are looking forward to automating every transaction of government to help us do the right thing naturally, we are working towards a situation where everybody will be under control and this will help the state more prudent in spending.

“We want to deploy the best financial management techniques and technology to develop our state, no agency or ministry will raise memo demanding for funds for any reason without first having it in mind to know if the balance on their budget provision can afford it.

“Of course the governor himself will see at a glance through this system that we are developing and know the budget balance of every ministry before giving approval to the release of any fund from the state treasury.

Mr Oyebamiji who is also the Supervisor for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives explained that through the software, international donors like the World Bank, the European Union and others will find it more easy and willing to work with the state because they will be able to see at a glance the transparent nature of governance in Osun’’. He stated.

He then urged all government officials both civil servants and political office holders to brace up with a view to assisting the present administration in strengthening the economy of the state through the various means being deployed by his office.

Also present at the presentation were: the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Adebimpe Ogunlumade, Former Special Assistant to the governor on Finance, Dr Wale Tijani, the Former Technical Assistant to the governor on Treasury Single Account, Mr Adetona Adefokun, representative of the Accountant General among others.