Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct more investigations into his administrations financial expenses if they so wished, maintaining that he is not afraid of further investigations.
Rt Hon Amaechi gave the challenge yesteray while answering questions at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Chapter, Platform, a forum for promoting accountability amongst public officials held in Port Harcourt.
The governor said the anti-graft agency was on a wild goose chase considering the way and manner he has conducted his financial expenses through adequate budget implementation.
‘They should go and check expenses of Government House in the past and that of the present administration. There are a lot of differences”, Amaechi declared.
Contrary to widely held opinions that the state was secretive about its budgetary implementation, the state governor noted that even the World Bank had lauded his government for publishing the budget and making it available even on line.
The governor submitted that he has equally checked careless budgetary allocations saying every expenses his government made were based on specifications approved by the Assembly.
To further consolidate on this stride, he assured that next year’s budget is now under preparations and may be sent to the state legislature before December his year.
In the same vein, the governor stated that the same right measures evolved are being replicated in the local councils with the setting up of the Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam Committee to monitor activities of Chairmen.
He disclosed that a report has already been submitted by the committee, but promised that it has to be thoroughly studied before swinging into action.
In his words, “ We have rated about five LGAs as above average. A bulk of them average and lots of them below average. We would sanction those below average on what they are doing with their money.
Aside project performance, Amaechi disclosed that some of the local government chairmen have been suspended due to bad security reports on them, hence the decision by his government recommending to the Assembly for them to be suspended.
The two local government areas are Andoni and Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni local government.
Governor Amaechi said since the two local council chairmen were suspended, their areas have known peace, adding that they would only be recalled if security reports improved in their domains.
Explaining why the Platform was organised, Rivers NUJ Chairman, Opaka Dokubo said the initiative was to appraise government officials and make them accountable.
Mr Dokubo commended the Governor for making himself available for the forum and for running an open administration.