Lawmakers at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, today, commenced a fresh probe of the state government over the management of Local Government funds, after the House observed that workers in local government councils are paid half of thier salaries.
The House passed a motion directing a joint committee made up of four standing committees: Local Governments, Public Accounts, Public Petitions, as well as Information, to probe funds going to local government councils from the state government, and to find out the extent of alleged denial of funds to the councils, leading to alleged payment of half salaries in the months of May and August.
The probe is also to dig into whether SURE-P funds to local governments do get to the councils, just as the joint committee is to investigate and make a report on whether statutory remittance is made to the 13 local government councils from the state government after Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs).
The joint committee was set up and so directed after a motion by Mohammed Baba Ibaku, who reported to the House during plenary that workers in Udege Development Area of Nasarawa Local Government Area cried out to him to intervene and get council authorities to pay their full salaries in May and August.
Ibaku reported to the House that his meeting with the council authorities and the aggrieved workers confirmed the allegations of half salaries to workers in the area.
Eight members took turns slamming the state government over alleged diversion of Local Governments funds, naming SURE-P, IGR and other statutory revenue allocations to the councils as areas where they suspected fraud.
Unanimously, the members supported the motion for ruling, and by extension, the setting up of the probe during which the joint committee is expected to invite the 13 Local Governmen Councils, the 16 Development Areas, and their respective Directors of Finance and Supplies (DFSs) to appear and say what they know of the allegations of half salaries to workers.
Members took turns to recall that the issue of Local Government funds not being remitted to councils, was a major item on the 16-count charges contained in the impeachment notice 20 of the 24 members signed in their bid to remove Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makuura, earlier on July 14. Daily Trust
