Kwara State government has organised a two-day workshop  for local government treasurers on preparation of financial statements to encourage transparency and accountability.

Speaking during the workshop organised by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with Local Government Service Commission in Ilorin last Tuesday, the Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, said the training would enhance economic development at the grassroots.

The HOS, who said Kwara State had always published its audited accounts before other states of the federation, lamented that almost all the 16 local government councils had not been forthcoming in the preparation of their financial statements, except Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

He said the training would impact on the treasurers, the knowledge, experience and techniques needed to produce their accounts on time and properly.

"To produce an account, you must exhibit transparency and accountability. People would be able to see what you have used the local government money you got for. When you tell people about the schools you said you've built, they will see it", he said.

The HOS, who said that preparation of the local governments financial statements was one of the core statutory responsibilities of every council treasurer, added that training and retraining of the cadre responsible for the compilation and presentation of the council account statements was very necessary.

He also said that sound financial management would help in the allocation of resources in support of government strategic objectives.

Also speaking at the workshop, some of the participants said the training would afford them the right approach to their job through interaction, problem solving and cross fertilisation of ideas, which they said would enhance productivity in efficient and effective delivery in the local govern