Bauchi State Assembly Committee Calls for Enhanced Financial Transparency and Accountability in Local Government Councils

By Muhammad Adamu

The Bauchi State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Economic Development has intensified its efforts to promote financial transparency and accountability within local government councils across the state. During a series of oversight visits to Darazo, Misau, Dambam, Gamawa, Ganjuwa, Ningi, and Warji local government areas, committee members, led by Chairman Ibrahim Tanko Burra, pledged to collaborate with the councils to ensure adherence to financial regulations.

In Darazo and Misau, Burra highlighted the importance of strengthening both vertical and horizontal accountability as a means of improving service delivery at the local level. He assured local council leaders that the oversight visit was not a witch hunt but an initiative to support councils in maintaining accurate financial records and achieving transparency.

Responding, the Chairman of Darazo Local Government, Samaila Ya’u Sade, committed to fostering a constructive relationship with the Assembly committee to promote transparency. Similarly, Salisu Hussaini Hardawa, the Chairman of Misau Local Government, commended the Assembly’s role in legislative guidance, calling on council staff to extend full cooperation to the committee’s efforts.

In Gamawa, Executive Chairman Madaki Ahmed Gololo emphasized his administration’s commitment to upholding financial prudence. Gololo, who assumed office recently, outlined his focus on economic diversification as a strategy to address financial challenges amid a nationwide economic downturn. He assured the committee that the council prioritizes revenue generation, record accuracy, and adherence to due process, with strict controls on expenditure.

The committee’s visit to Ganjuwa, Ningi, and Warji further reinforced its mandate to promote transparency. In these areas, Burra urged councils to ensure prompt remittance of internally generated revenue to the council coffers, emphasizing that sound financial practices and record-keeping are essential to meet regulatory standards and public expectations.

In each local government, council officials expressed appreciation for the committee’s intervention, describing it as timely and beneficial. They provided insights into their progress in enhancing financial transparency and shared the challenges encountered in implementing directives from the state government.

The Bauchi State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Economic Development’s recent activities underscore its dedication to a robust oversight system, aiming to promote accountability, financial integrity, and improved governance at the grassroots level.