Nasarawa Assembly begins oversight duties in LGAs to ensure frugal management of public funds
….Hails Chairman Toto LG for judicious utilization of resources, reserves comments on Nasarawa LG Chairman
By Yahaya Idris
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has commenced oversight functions across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state to assess their performance and ensure the judicious use of public funds in line with constitutional provisions. This initiative includes monitoring local government expenditures and holding them accountable for budget implementation.
The Assembly has pledged to sanction any ministry, department, agency, or local government that fails to respond to audit reports or queries from the oversight committees.
This move reflects the Assembly’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public financial management within the state
The exercise commenced Wednesday with Nasarawa and Toto LGAs respectively.
The State Assembly during the visit showered accolades on the Executive Chairman of Toto Local Government Area Pharm. Ahmed Baba Yahaya over excellent performance in terms of projects implementation that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the area.
The Chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon. Musa Abubakar Ibrahim gave the commendation when he led other members of the committee on an oversight visit to Total Local Government Area.
The Chairman said, he scored Toto LG Chairman Seventy Five Percent because he has done marvelously well in almost all areas that have direct benefit to the common person especially at the grassroot.
He said that what the committee see in Toto LG under the leadership of the Chairman has prove to them that what the LGs are getting can change the lives of the people positively if used wisely.
” What we have seen today has actually shows that indeed some of the Chairmen of Local Governments are living up to expectations of their people.
” You hardly find a LG Chairman who is always in the mix of his people, but for Toto LG Chairman, he is always with his people and we commend him for that.
” We have seen that he has utilized what was appropriated for him and what was coming as allocation from the federation account judiciously.
” From the evidence we have seen here in Toto no excuse can be entertain from any Chairman, we encourage him to do more and urged other LGs to emulate his example” He said.
“We have seen 220 hectares of rice in Katakpa, 150 hectares of maize in Toto, 50 hectares of cassava in Gadabuke, insecticides, sprayers, a befitting NYSC lodge, apart from effort to ensure peace and security in the area” He added.
On their recent visit to Nasarawa Local Government Area, Abubakar Ibrahim stated that he reserved his comments until the Committee returns to the Assembly.
The Chairman emphasized that a thorough analysis of their findings in the field will be conducted by the full House before making any public statements or decisions.
This approach underscores the importance of careful review and collective deliberation to ensure accurate and informed outcomes from the oversight exercise.
During the visit, the Chairman of Toto Local Government Area, Pharm. Ahmed Baba Yahaya, expressed his appreciation to the committee for their visit. He pledged to collaborate closely with the House of Assembly in fulfilling their mandates for the benefit of the people of the area.
Pharm. Yahaya highlighted that his administration prioritizes boosting agriculture to enhance food sufficiency and strengthen the economic base of the community. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to renovate the entire Local Government Secretariat to provide a conducive working environment.
He emphasized that the security of lives and properties remains a top priority, alongside other developmental initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of the people in Toto Local Government Area
The Committee was conducted on a tour to farm sites in Katakpa, Toto, and Gadabuke, as well as the newly purchased and renovated NYSC lodge and store.
During the visit, they inspected rice seedlings, insecticides, sprayers, and other agricultural inputs to assess ongoing farming activities and resource utilization in these areas.
This field visit is part of the broader oversight efforts to ensure effective implementation of agricultural projects and support to farmers in Nasarawa State.
