Malik Yahya/
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, has expressed alarm over the lack of administrative infrastructure in Nigeria’s local government system.
Speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit yesterday, Aliyu revealed that only seven out of the 774 local government councils in the country have functional websites.
This, he said, significantly hampers efforts to monitor expenditures and ensure accountability at the grassroots level.
“Without basic administrative tools like websites, it becomes difficult to track how resources meant for development are being utilized,” he lamented.
Aliyu’s comments came during a broader conversation about the challenges of governance at the local council level, where the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, also charged local government chairmen to be more accountable.
Olukoyede stressed that council leaders do not have immunity from investigation or prosecution and warned them to manage public funds prudently.
The EFCC boss criticised the glaring poverty and stagnation in rural areas despite substantial funds allocated over the years, describing many councils as “existing only in name.”
To address these issues, he recommended the establishment of compliance units in local governments to enhance transparency and accountability.
Governor Muhammad Inuwa of Gombe State, in his opening remarks, highlighted the importance of discipline and capacity building in the wake of financial autonomy granted to local councils.
He noted that Gombe State had already implemented financial autonomy for its 11 local councils, positioning them to meet the expectations of their communities.
The summit served as a platform to address governance shortcomings and advocate for reforms that would enable local councils to fulfill their developmental roles effectively.
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