The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has called for stronger oversight of local government fund utilisation, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to establish units in every local government office to monitor expenditures and prosecute financial mismanagement.
The Christian group also appealed to media organisations to set up dedicated desks to report on the progress of local councils, highlighting both successes and challenges.
A statement issued by NCYP chairman Isaac Abrak yesterday said: “We urge financial regulatory bodies such as the EFCC and ICPC to create specialised units focused on monitoring fund usage and prosecuting offenders.”
The group also stressed the critical role of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in educating local governments and communities on the importance of these funds for development.
NCYP praised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for its efforts to implement a recent Supreme Court ruling and commended state governors for supporting local government autonomy.
However, they cautioned that local government chairmen must resist mismanagement, citing concerns about excessive aide appointments, some exceeding 100, as a misuse of public resources.
The group further recommended that local government chairmen regularly disclose their budgets to enhance transparency, governance, and accountability.
Abrak also called for workshops on budgeting and modern IT tools for effective fund management.
NCYP highlighted the potential of local governments to drive grassroots development, comparing countries’ success in the United States.
“We urge media outlets to report on the operations of local governments, fostering dialogue between the federal government, councils, and citizens.
“We called for civil society organisations to help educate citizens on holding local governments accountable through town hall meetings and advocacy campaigns, stressing that empowering the grassroots is essential for national development,he said.
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