DTHA Public Accounts Committee Tasks Council Chairmen On Prudent Management Of Resources

By Frederick Odu.

Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts says prudent management of resources is the only way visible physical development can be achieved in the local government areas.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Anthony Emeka Elekeokwuri stated this during the public hearings organized by the Committee to look into the audited accounts of the 25 local government councils in the state.

The exercise, which took place at the Public Accounts Committee hall, Delta State Assembly Complex, Asaba, saw the 25 Chairmen of the local government councils in the state, individually appearing before the Committee.

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Elekeokwuri, who represents Ika North East in the House, said drastic steps must be taken to reduce waste and corruption in the councils, emphasizing that the sure way to guarantee good governance at the grassroots level was fiscal discipline.

The Lawmaker, flanked by some members of the Committee including Honorables Emeka Nwaobi, Peter Uviejitobor, Felix Anirah, Charles Onyiyere and Evuakporie Evivie, reminded the Council Chairmen of the various financial and audit laws in the state, maintaining that funds accruing to the councils must be judiciously applied to massive infrastructure development, welfare and security of the people at the grassroots.

He said invitation to appear before the Committee as a statutory obligation in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stating that section 129 of the Constitution empowered the Committee to invite the Chairmen and look at the books of local government councils.

Maintaining that the invitation was not to witch-hunt as being perceived by some of the Council Chairmen anytime they were asked to appear before the Committee, Elekeokwuri advised against such insinuations and urged them to be transparent and accountable in their stewardship to the people.

The Legislator stressed that good governance must be delivered in the Councils to compliment the development strides of the state government, even as he disclosed that the Committee had received queries by the Auditor General, (Local Government).