Transparency, accountability needed in AMAC

Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) should try to ensure transparency and accountability otherwise the council chairman would be accused of blatant disregard of relevant Appropriation Act, Procurement Act and other several infractions.

These infractions are targeted at creating an opaque financial regime that is unaccountable and unregulated. For example, there is failure to furnish the National Assembly with quarterly status reports of the council’s statutory accounts. Such action is subject to investigation by the lawmakers and other relevant agencies of government.

Contrary to clear provisions of the Appropriation Act, there is allegation that the council chairman has consistently and continuously failed, refused and neglected to furnish the National Assembly with quarterly status reports of the council’s statutory accounts. This refusal is bad and renders the chairman liable to be investigated and possibly impeached for two reasons.

First, it shrouds the finances of the council in secrecy thereby creating room for fraud, misappropriation and misuse of public funds. Secondly, the failure of a public official to obey and abide by very clear statutory provisions is in itself an impeachable offence.

Our request in this circumstance is that this clear breach of the law should be remedied with a view to protecting our institutions from unwarranted abuse.

Other weighty issues include grant of revenue generation appointments under shady circumstance and release of council funds or virement without legislative approvals.

The council may be seen, rightly or wrongly, to be operating under circumstances that negate the principles and practices of procurement (Procurement Act), disregard of the role of the legislature in the administration of the council, shrouded in secrecy, cronyism and standards.

There are also allegations of contracts granted to family members, and not advertised, lack of public scrutiny, not inviting civil societies and journalists as observers and competition and bidding granted under alleged enormous financial compensation.

Comrade Joseph Jonah, Civil Society for Human Rights and Rehabilitation