The Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission, Mr Michael Omolayo, has charged bursars in all the public secondary schools across the state to have a positive mindset capable of enhancing effective and efficient management of schools’ finances.
Omolayo gave the charge at the interactive meeting with the bursars at Christ School, Ado Ekiti.
Omolayo described bursars as key factors in the financial management of schools and asked them to foster harmonious working relationships with their principals for transparency and accountability.
The Permanent Secretary also admonished the schools’ finance managers to familiarise themselves more with the Teaching Service Commission Manual and other relevant government documents that would aid their proficiency in the administration of school finances.
He cautioned them against arbitrary spending in schools without official approvals and directed that management decisions, as well as approvals, should be documented in official files, warning that verbal directives on financial transactions are not recognized or accepted in public service.
While admonishing them to reciprocate government gestures through hard work and commitment to duties, Omolayo assured them of training that would guarantee efficiency in the discharge of their duties.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary Bureau of Central Internal Audit, Mr Babatunde Adesola, explained that Auditing is about due process which will not tolerate infractions, noting that all monies should be judiciously spent and accounted for.
He advised that there should always be a delegation of duties and that hierarchy must be followed.
He advised them to be conversant with the financial administration book to guide them in the rules and regulations of the job.
Adesola stressed that Bursars are sub-accounting officers who represent the State Accountant General in secondary schools, entrusted with the receipt, custody and disbursement of public funds.
In his response the State Chairman of the Conference of Bursars of Secondary Schools (COBUSS), Rotimi Akinwande lauded the interactive session and pledged that they would “re-dedicate themselves to duty and put in their best to justify the confidence reposed in them by the government”.
He appealed for more training workshops and seminars for them and the provision of security personnel in schools.
