Alleged N54.4m Screening Fees Stir Controversy In Taraba LG Councils

Controversy has erupted across Taraba State’s 16 local government councils following allegations that newly appointed supervisory councillors and special advisers are being required to pay screening fees running into over N54.4 million before confirmation by legislative councils.

Investigations revealed that the appointees are made to pay varying amounts depending on their positions, with supervisory councillor nominees reportedly charged N250,000 each, while special advisers are required to pay between N50,000 and N150,000 across different councils.

The payments, according to findings, are tied to screening and confirmation exercises conducted by local government legislative councils ahead of formal assumption of office.

Based on appointment lists obtained by our correspondent, each of the 16 local government areas reportedly appointed an average of seven supervisory councillors and at least 11 special advisers, pushing the estimated total collections to over N54.4 million statewide.

The development has sparked concerns among stakeholders and public affairs observers, who have questioned the legality of the charges and the accountability framework surrounding the funds.

A review of constitutional and local government legal provisions indicates that neither the 1999 Constitution (as amended) nor Taraba State local government laws expressly provide for mandatory screening fees for political appointees.

Confirming the practice, the leader of the Jalingo Legislative Council, Abdulsalami Joda, said supervisory councillor nominees are required to pay N250,000, while special advisers are charged N150,000 before screening, adding that the arrangement has long existed in the system.

“This is not something that started today. It has been the practice in local governments across the state whenever appointments are made and nominees are to be screened,” Joda said.

Similarly, the leader of the Takum Legislative Council, Peter Garkye, also confirmed the charges, noting that supervisory councillor nominees in his council pay N250,000, while special advisers pay N50,000 before confirmation.

However, some local government chairmen have distanced themselves from the arrangement. The chairmen of Takum and Lau LGAs, Bako Benjamin and Peter Vau, said they neither authorised nor supervised the collection, insisting that legislative councils operate independently.

Their stance has raised further questions over who approved the charges, where the funds are lodged, and how they are accounted for.

Some affected appointees described the payments as an unexpected financial burden, saying many nominees from rural communities were struggling to raise the required sums.

“Many of us were invited to serve our communities. We were not informed that screening would come with this kind of financial demand,” one nominee said.

Legal practitioners have also raised concerns, stressing that any fee imposed by a public institution must have clear legal backing and transparent accountability mechanisms.

As at press time, efforts to reach the Taraba State ALGON chairman, Moses Hankeli, were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, affected appointees have called on Governor Agbu Kefas and relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and clarify the legality and handling of the funds being collected.