Commission Begins Inquiry Into Niger Local Councils Records

Niger State Fiscal Responsibility Commission (NSFRC) has begun an inquiry into the records, budget, expenditure and project execution of local government councils in the state.

Permanent member 1 of the commission, Ibrahim Tauheed, during a meeting with Tafa and Gurara local government councils at the Suleja Council Secretariat, said the move was to ensure compliance in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Laws.

He informed representatives of the councils that the commission is mandated to monitor the flow of income and expenditures of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), including the 25 local councils of the state, to verify the integrity of their disbursements, thus the need for an interactive meeting.

The team made an inquiry into the level of due process to obtain Authorisation to Incur Expenditure (A.I.E.), among other records.

The permanent member 1, who led the team, said the lack of synergy among Heads of Departments was responsible for the discrepancies in the submissions and urged them to reconcile their records or face necessary disciplinary action.

The Permanent Member emphasised that revenue generation in the councils is inadequate while reminding them that taxpayers’ money must be properly utilized for community development to make taxpayers respond to payment requests; hence, they will be encouraged to pay if they see development.

Tauheed drew their attention to several other untapped revenue sources, which he said would jack up income for the LGAs.

He also advised the council chairmen to meet with the Emirate Council to resolve boundary disputes hindering the councils from generating revenue along the borderline.

Members of the commission, during their contributions, highlighted that the LGAs must submit project specifications, Bill of Quantities, pictures and drafts in line with the ethical codes.

Similarly, other relevant documents detailing proof of transactions, including statements of accounts for the year under review, were also requested.