Lack of response from finance, LG ministries stalls bailout fund probe

The inability of the Niger state ministries of finance and of local government, community development and chieftaincy affairs to make available the details of monthly allocations and bailout funds released to 12 local government areas is stalling investigation into the utilization of the funds by councils in Niger state.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had recently set up a fact-finding administrative panel to investigate the utilization of funds released from June 2016 to January 2017 to local government councils that had been unable to meet the salary obligations to their staffers.

The councils include Agaie, Bida, Bosso, Chanchaga, Gbako, Gurara, Katcha, Lapai, Lavun, Paikoro, Shiroro and Suleja.

The state government had alleged that despite the intervention in form of bailout and Federal Allocation accruing to them, there were complaints that the affected councils still failed to pay salaries, necessitating the setting up of the panel.

At its maiden press briefing yesterday, the chairman of the Panel, Mr. Daniel Chelo Tarachi said while the 12 councils had furnished the panel with relevant information, the ministry of finance and local government, community development and chieftaincy affairs had not been forthcoming with such details.

He therefore urged the respective ministries to do so to enable it complete its report in good time.