ADSG hands 4 Council Chairs Heads to security over misappropriation of salaries

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By; Tina Phineas, Yola.
Four Local Government Council Chairmen in Adamawa state have been ordered to report to the Commissioner of Police and Director of DSS and account for N19 million meant for local council salaries.
Governor Muhammadu Umar Jibrilla gave the directives during an interactive session with heads of local government councils in Yola.
According to him, his administration is working within the principle of transparency and accountability, adding that public funds must be adequately accounted for.
“Four local government areas of the state are to appear before Commissioners of Police and Director of State Security to explain the disbursement of nineteen million naira meant for the payment of local government workers”, he stated.
The affected local governments are Lamurde, Jada, Shelleng and Demsa.
 
Jibrilla frowned at the attitude of using staff salaries for other issues, warning the councils to desist from dipping hands into funds without authorizations from the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs.
“I must emphasize on accountability and transparency because this is a changed administration. Our change should not be by mere sayings but in practice”, the governor stated.
“I have made payment of salaries a front line charge and as such there is no how one can shortchange staff salaries for other pressing issues” he asserted.
Giving details of her local government area, Mrs Adisukti Johannah of Lamorde LGA said there were deductions from the nineteen million naira by cashier of the council without her approval which necessitates conflicting financial report on the salary payment.
She alledged that there was a collaboration between the local government cashier and their bank to withdraw certain amount without her knowledge.
In Demsa, the immediate past administrative head is reported to have taken two million naira for unknown reasons before leaving office adding that instructions was received to also deduct certain amount to fund political activities.
Shelleng local government is said to have used part of the money for the renovation of local government secretariat, which was blown off by storm in recent times.
The Commissioner for Local government and Chieftancy Affairs said with the recommendation of the staff audit, funds made available should be able to pay workers of the local government.
In a reaction, the Commissioner of Police Mohammed Al Gazali said he will work with Commissioner of Justice to fish out the perpetrators of diversion of public funds.
Director of State Security noted that he has established a clear case of misappropriation of state resources and promised to act on it.

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