The Cross River State government has said that it would look into the stewardship of immediate past chairmen of the 18 local councils of the state, including the amount of money spent in the execution of projects in their respective councils.
The councillors were alleged to have embezzled money given to them for projects by government but the money was not utilised for the purpose they were meant for, hence the government’s intention to look into the accounts books and inspect projects they claimed to have executed.
Confirming the councils’ chairmen misdemeanours, the special adviser to the state governor on projects/programmes monitoring and evaluation, Mr. Eja-Dons Esege, had hinted that the department would henceforth embark on a tour of the 18 councils to inspect their projects and account books. He advised past and present councillors and their directors of works to cooperate with his team of monitors, as they visit to vet their records.
Esege who emphasised that the essence of the inspection which would be carried out on regular basis is to ensure that projects executed by the councils were in accordance with laid down rules and procedures hinted that past chairmen are also expected to show that
their expenditure profiles are tied to specific projects and programmes they executed before bowing out of office.
“Among other things, the department would also want to know whether the money availed them was properly utilised by the chairmen in executing the projects. We will also assess how these projects have impacted on the lives of the people,” Esege said.
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