Auditor-General Advises LG Chairmen On Funds Management

The Auditor-General for Local Governments in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Bassey Umoh, has cautioned elected council officials in the state on  the management of public funds.

Umoh said last Friday, in Uyo, in a paper on “Financial Control in the Local Governments”, at a workshop for newly elected local government chairmen and councillors to equip them with the rudiments of good governance.

He reminded them that public office was public trust, and that accountability should be their watch word.

“Public office is public trust, honest and efficient performance will be rewarded; dishonesty and inefficiency will not be condoned, while corruption will be punished wherever it is found.’’

Umoh said it was the expectation of the people that local government functionaries should be in effective control of human and material resources in their domain for the benefit of all.

He said that as financial managers of their local government areas, they should use the funds accruing to them efficiently and effectively in the accomplishment of desired goals.

“Financial control in the local government system refers to the mechanism put in place to ensure proper control over receipts and disbursement of public funds.’’

Umoh urged the employees to take their vacation no matter how busy they may claim to be, especially those holding financial positions.

“Employees should take their annual holidays however busy they may purport to be.

“Those affected chiefly are the cashiers, revenue collectors, imprest holders, storekeepers, officers approving purchase of items of stores and contract of various prices.’’