Saturday, June 27, 2015

….More Credits Are Getting To Councils Though Not Enough-Mayor Nkambe

By Ignatius Nji

               Honorable Councilors Deliberating the 2014 Administrative and Management Session




With the devolved powers transferred from government ministries to the councils following the decentralization process, the Mayor of Nkambe Council, Ngabir Paul Bantar says, many more funds are getting to the councils though not enough. These not withstanding, some ministries are still feet dragging to transfer both resources and executing powers to the local councils. Speaking during the 2014 administrative and management account for Nkambe Council, the Mayor declared that revenue witnessed a leap from FCFA318 million in 2013 to FCFA 569.4 million and expenditure in investment and recurrent stood at FCFA 562.1 million with a surplus of FCFA 7.3million carried forward.


Though the financial situation according to Mayor Ngabir, has moved upscale, the finance committee of the council headed by Musa Shey Nfor, thinks that many are more explored avenues generate revenue within the municipality. The finance committee head applauded the Mayor for exploring taxable activities in the municipality. Income generated for renting out the community hall moved from FCFA30.000 to over FCFA 800000 and the slaughter slap was able to generate over FCFA 450000 up from FCFA 52000. More so 2014 did not witness any cash deficit as was the case in 2013. Councilors were called upon to be part of revenue collection by way of frequent sensitization on the importance of paying taxes.
Councilors scrutinized reports of projects realized and recorded in 2014 and in the health sector an equipped health center was constructed in Chup. PNDP sponsored project so the construction of water in three government primary schools and ardorate. A borehole at GHS Binka and a toilet at the rehabilitated council community hall were realized. In the education sector, didactic materials were distributed to primary schools, classroom constructed in GS Nalla-Mbot, equipped the head teacher’s office and 60 benches. To boost economic activities in the municipality, open market sheds were constructed in Tabenken, Binka, Mayo-Binka and Wat. Road maintenance and construction of culverts with some solar street lamps were mounted in Nkambe town and Moh village though some vandals damaged one at Faraday junction on the 26th of May when SDF was celebrating the party’s anniversary. Investigations are underway to track down the culprit of that act. The Town hall which yet to be occupied for lack of electricity and water was equipped though plans are underway to provide a borehole to generate both electricity and water by solar energy and staff salaries were prompt and partially paid the social insurance dues and further more staff was sufficiently motivated with material during the labour and women’s day celebration. MINEPIA donated a tricycle and PNDP made available motorcycle Yamaha AG. The Mayor did announce that Councilors shall be trained in the days ahead to empower them on council activities. To effectively handle road maintenance and grading in the municipality, the Mayor says there is urgent need for a front loader.
After the heated debate by councilors seeking clarification as to the management of the council, the Mayor thanked the councilors for the frankness in questioning his management which only goes to demonstrate their concern for the municipality. On his part the supervisory authority did applaud the councilors for honest deliberation and prays that this spirit should be the order of day in all council deliberations bringing in positive contributions. On security the SDO said it requires collective effort to maintain security in the Division and that nobody should relent in denouncing any suspicious activity to the law enforcement officers. He lauded the Mayor in his effort to demarcate council land given that the government has asked the his administration to secure 100.000 hectares of land for agriculture, 50.000 hectares for industries and 10.000 hectares for low cost housing in Donga Mantung Division.

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