By: Felix Ikpotor
Local council chairmen in Rivers State are now agitated over the setting up of a committee by the State Governor Nyesom Wike to probe the funds of the various local councils that make up the state in the last one year.
This is even as the Governor has lamented that despite the allocations accruing to the local government areas, none of the chairmen has invited him to commission any project.
Insider sources revealed to this publication that all the chairmen are now beckoning on their cashiers and heads of local government including leaders of their respective legislative assemblies and all relevant officers of the respective councils to ensure that their books are in concurrence.
The agitation amongst the chairmen we have gathered sterns from the recent suspension twelve council chairmen by the governor.
Reacting to the governor’s statement, Chairman of Ikwerre local government area, Nwanosike Samuel was quoted as saying that the councils cannot do much because of the over population of workers.
He said: “in a situation whereby the council receives about one hundred and thirty million naira as allocation each month and you have to pay salaries of over ninety million, there is little you can achieve”.
However, his counterpart in Obio/ Akpor local government area, Prince Solomon Abel Eke regarded the governor’s statement as a charge and assured that the governor will certainly be invited to commission projects in the council as he marks his one year in office next month.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee set up to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 Local Government Councils from May 2018 to May 2019, Wike said that when he was chairman, he invited the then governor, Peter Odili to commission projects in his council.
Wike while clearing the air, said the committee is not aimed at removing any Council Chairman or official, but targeted at improving probity and accountability in the 23 Local Government Councils of the state.
Hr said the intention of the government is not to remove any chairman but to ensure sanity.
His words: “We are not trying to remove any Local Government Chairman, but it cannot be business as usual in the 23 Local Government Areas.
“We want to know how the Local Government Councils spend their Local Government Allocations. I have never interfered in the administration of Local Government funds.
“I am not one of those governors that interfere with Local Government funds”.
“I have found out that there is no Local Government Area where you see a single project. When I was Local Government Council Chairman, we executed projects. For me, I invited the State Governor at the time, Dr Peter Odili to commission projects. No local Government Chairman has invited me to commission a project “,
Wike urged the committee to be upright in the discharge of their duties, saying that if he gets information that any chairman or godfather attempts to compromise the committee, the committee will be dissolved.
“People must sit up and account for funds of the Local Government Councils. Ask for bank statements, ask for money from Joint Account, ask for the salaries and allowances. If they spent any funds the day I visited, they should state it. We cannot continue the way we are going.
“At the end of every month, they come to JAC meeting. We must know how the funds are spent. Also, check which Local Government Councils collected loans when they are not backed to do so without authorisation”.
He said that the committee has three weeks to submit its report. He stated that the State Government counts on the integrity of members of the committee to deliver on the assignment.
Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Committee, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo said the audit is a tool aimed at ensuring the proper use of local government funds for the development of the respective areas.
“The efficient running of Local Government Councils will add value to the achievement of the vision of the Governor. The committee will work in line with the terms of reference of the Governor “, she said.
