The Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption (PAAC) has called for increased capital funding for the state Bureau of Information Technology to enable it meet growing ICT infrastructure demands in the state.

The chairman of the committee, Damilare Bello, made the call on Friday during the continued consideration of the 2024 auditor-general’s report on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Mr Bello spoke while hosting the management team of the bureau, led by the director of Standard Regulation, Planning and Research, Olatundun Adekunte.

He stated that increased funding had become necessary to bolster ICT infrastructure across the state and enhance service delivery.

He directed the bureau to submit its updated fixed asset register, as well as supporting documents on its power generating sets and internet service charges.

He urged the agency to reconcile its bank charges in line with observations contained in the auditor-general’s report.

In the same vein, the committee considered the audit report of the state Agricultural Development Corporation, led by its director of finance and accounts, Solomon Olasehinde.

The chairman and other members of the committee directed the corporation to submit detailed income and expenditure reports from its plantations located in Apoje, Lomiro, Ibara, Ikenne and Balekan.

They also requested evidence of dividend income from associated companies and details of land leased out, which formed the basis for revenue recorded as other investment income for the year under review.

Similarly, while considering the audit report of the ministry of culture and tourism, led by its permanent secretary, Qudus Yusuf, the committee urged the management to intensify efforts toward establishing a legislative framework for hotel registration to boost revenue generation.

The ministry was also directed to submit its fixed asset register, provide documents on other equipment and reconcile its bank charges with the auditor-general’s report. 

(NAN)