CRHA PAC INVESTIGATES AUDIT QUERIES AGAINST LG COUNCILS
By ltam Offor
The Cross River State House of Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has begun investigating audit queries raised by the office of the Auditor General for Local Government Areas against some Councils.
The exercise stems from the audited accounts of the councils for the years ended December 31 2022 /2023 as well as the Income and Expenditure profiles for of the councils for November 2024 to date.
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon Odey Brian Wonah (representing Yala 2) restated the legislature's mandate to oversight Local Government Councils to ensure checks and balances in governance.
He noted that, the administration of Senator Bassey Edet Otu is doing well for the State and needs to be supported to do more. He added that Section 20 subsection, 2 of the Local Government Law mandates Local Government Councils to submit their monthly income and expenditure statements to the office of the Auditor General for Local Government and vowed that defaulting LG councils will be sanctioned according to the law.
Also speaking, the State Auditor General for Local Government Dr Oden Eni, stated that the interface between the House of Assembly's Public Accounts Committee and the Councils is aimed at reviewing the Income and Expenditure statements of the queried councils for the period under review adding that the submission of audited accounts of LGAs is provided for by the law.
The Committee has so far interfaced with many of the LG Councils including; Bakassi, Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Abi, Yakurr, Akamkpa and Calabar South Councils.
Councils whose documents were incomplete were given one week interval to provide all relevant documents relating to some contracts awards and other expenditure in their Councils.
Some of the LG Chairmen interviewed, explained that, their inability to submit some necessary details,as requested, was due to technical issues in their Councils.
The Committee Members include; Hon Eyo Bassey Edet (Bakassi), Hon Ovat Agbor (Obubra I), Hon Martins Achado (Yala 2), Samuel Neji Abang (Ikom I), Hon Bassey Bassey (Akpabuyo) and Hon Charles Omang Omang (Bekwara).
Others are Hon Francis Ogban(Biase), Hon Thomas Aruku (Ogoja) Hon Okon Owuna (Akamkpa 1), Hon Victor Nsa (Cal south 2) and Hon Egbe Abeng (Obubra 2).
