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Nasarawa Assembly inaugurates committee on LG finances

Nasarawa Assembly inaugurates committee on LG finances
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Committee
Lafia, July 16, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has set up a six-man committee to investigate the finances of Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs because of non-payment of staff June salary and unnecessary deductions of council funds.
The Speaker, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, made this known while constituting the committee, after Mr Danladi Jatau (PDP-Kokona West), raised the issue under Matters of Public Interest at plenary on Tuesday in Lafia.
He said it was disheartening that up till now, June salary of local government workers had not been paid.
“What is happening in the local government is sad and unfortunate; why is it that 16 days after, June salary of the local government staff has not been paid?
“We cannot fold our hands to see our brothers and sisters, who are working at the local government level suffering.
“I appreciate the Minority Leader, Hon. Danladi Jatau, for raising the matter; and other members, for contributing positively to it.
“It is on this note that I will set up six-man committee to include Alhaji Mohammed Alkali of Lafia North Constituency as the Chairman, and Mr Ego Maikeffi, the Clerk of the House, to serve as Secretary of the committee.
“Danladi Jatau (PDP-Kokona West); Ibrahim Muluku (APC-Nassarawa Eggon East); John Osewu (PDP-Doma South) as members.”
Other members of the committee include Daniel Ogazi (APC-Kokona East) and Abdulaziz Danladi (Keffi-East).
Abdullahi directed the committee to submit their report on July 22.
He noted that the House would continue to ensure that the right things were done in the best interest of the state, and for the overall development of the country. (NAN)
BAB/FLP/MST
Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

European centre trains INEC staff on tracking campaign finances

European centre trains INEC staff on tracking campaign finances
By Awayi Kuje
Monitoring
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Jan. 14, 2019 (NAN) The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) says it is training 67 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on how to monitor campaign finances of candidates and political parties ahead the 2019 general elections.
Mr Rudolf Elbling, the Project Coordinator of ECES, disclosed this on Monday at the commencement of the training of the INEC personnel drawn from the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is titled: “Training of INEC EPM Staff on the Redesigned Campaign Finance Forms’’.
Elbling, who was represented by Dr Isaiaka Yahaya, the ECES Senior Electoral Administration Expert, said the training was aimed at equipping the EPM staff with skills to effectively monitor the campaign finances of candidates and political parties ahead of the polls.
“This workshop has been put together for the twin objectives of building the capacity of INEC staff to effectively monitor the campaign finances of political parties ahead of 2019 election.
“The political parties are primary stakeholders in the electoral process.
“The manner in which they carry out their activities especially in the areas of campaign finance has implications for the transparency and integrity of the electoral system.
“Excessive and improper deployment of money before, during and after elections distorts the essence of democracy as government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“And compromise the freedom of the people to exercise their choices in elections,” he said.
Elbling therefore charged the participants to use the knowledge gained in order to achieve positive result of monitoring campaign finances of political parties.
“It is my hope that deliberations and knowledge to be gained by participants at the workshop will strengthen INEC’s capacity to effectively monitor the activities of political parties;
“enthrone healthy campaign finance practices and entrenched internal democracy among the parties.
“It is also my hope that the outcome of the workshop will provide feasible solutions to the emerging threat of vote buying and selling which have been observed in recent off cycle governorship elections,” he said.
The ECES project coordinator restated the commitment of the centre to continue to train INEC personnel to strengthen democracy in the country.
Mr Aminu Idris, the Director, Election and Party Monitoring (EPM), INEC Headquarters, Abuja, commended the ECES for sponsoring the training and called on participants to take the training with all seriousness.
The director restated the commitment of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
NAN reports that the workshop brought together participants from 20 Northern states, including FCT, Abuja. (NAN)
AKW/KOLE/MST
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhammad Suleiman Tola