Wike Vows Tough Actions Against Rivers LG Officials Indicted In Audit Report

By Editor

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Monday vowed heavy sanctions on local government treasurers and civil servants indicted in the local government audit report which he said showed scandalous misappropriation of funds.

While observing that the government will abide by the Supreme Court Judgment that State Governors cannot dissolve elected Councils, the governor said that would, however, to stop him in taking corrective actions against those found wanting.

He spoke on Monday when he received the report of the committee set up to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 Local Government Councils from May 2018 to May 2019 at the Government House Port Harcourt. 

He said: “The Supreme Court has said that you cannot dissolve elected councils. We will obey the Supreme Court judgment on that matter.  

“But we shall  take action  on the areas where we are empowered by law to act. All the treasurers, Head Personnel Management and other civil servants involved  in illegal financial transactions will be sanctioned. 

“I have read the preliminary report.  It is bad.  The report is scandalous.  Tomorrow, they will say that I don’t remember those who fought for me. Did you fight for me, so that you can destroy the system”.

Governor Wike said Local Government Council Chairmen are under obligation to work for their people and deliver  dividends of democracy to improve  their lives.

“I am quite satisfied with what the committee has done. It is not political  and things must be done the right way.  We cannot continue to play.  The problem with this country is that we take things for granted 

“As a Local Government Council Chairman, I created record as a performer.  I did projects and worked for our people.  I won all the awards.

“If I was going to them to bring money, I wouldn’t get up to set up the committee.  They would have indicted me.  Some councils take up to N2billion annually and there is a council that gets up to N5billion annually, yet no project”, he said.

The Governor urged Council Chairmen and top government officials to always work to develop  their communities  and leave worthy legacies.

He commended  the Committee  for working in line with their terms of reference.  He said that they focused on the task without  attracting  any  form of scandal. 

“I thank the committee for a job well done.  I am quite satisfied with what the committee has done.  It is not political and things must be done right.  We cannot continue to play.  The problem with this country is that we take things for granted”, he said.

The Governor noted that he is not out to witchhunt anyone, but remains committed to the development of Rivers State and the entrenchment of due process. 

Earlier, Chairman of  the  committee set up to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 Local Government Councils from May 2018 to May 2019 and Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo  thanked Governor Wike for his commitment to the development of Rivers State. 

She said to ensure professionalism, the committee engaged three auditing firms to achieve the right results. 

The Deputy Governor said all the Council Chairmen and relevant officials participated in the exercise.  According to her, the committee worked in line  with best practices for the good of Rivers State. 

She said that Local Government Chairmen should see the exercise as a wake up call  to work for their people. 

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