Group commends lawmakers' move to abolish joint account system

A GROUP - Research Triangle Institute/Leadership, Empowerment, Advocac and Development (RTI/LEAD),funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 'has welcome the move by the National Assembly to abolishthe state and local government joint account system in Nigeria.The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) of the group, Alhaji Tijjani Mohammed,madethe disclosurein Kano, on Friday, at the opening of a three-dayadvocacy and sensitisation workshop on budget process and transparency for local government councils in Sokoto State.'The efforts of theNational Assembly deserve commendation, as the move would enable the local governments to get their monthly federation allocation directly.'This will change the current situation whereby the funds accruing to the local governments are being trapped in the joint account system by the state governments.'He noted that the joint account systemhad starved most of the 774 local government councilsin the country of funds.'This, therefore, has been inhibiting them from executing thevital developmental projects forthe people,' he said.The DCOPsaid further that the organisation was assisting the six champion local governments in Sokoto State to boost theirinternally generatedrevenue base, to increasetheir capabilities to deliverdividends of democracy to the people.He explained that the workshop was aimed atensuring transparency, honesty and accountability at the third tier of government.'It is unfortunate that most of the local governments now operate without adhering to laws onthebudget and transparency.'The workshop is therefore, aimed at improvinggovernance and strengthening the capacitiesoflocal governmentsas well asenhancingtransparency in its operations.'According to NAN, he said aworkinggroup has been established in the state to ensure popular participation inbudgetingand implementation in the state.The Permanent Secretary in thestate'sMinistry ofLocal Governments, Alhaji Bello Gwiwa,said that the state government was partnering theorganisation to enhancedemocracyat the council level.
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