Tuesday, July 28, 2015

North Westerners Disappointed With Own Senators Over Micro-grants Management

By Ignatius Nji


Senator Simon Achidi Achu




Senators of the North West Region led by Senator Simon Achidi Achu former Prime Minister,  have undertaken a week marathon visiting all the seven Divisional Headquarters distributing motor bikes to Councils as a form of appreciation to the councilors for voting them in to office since 2013. This gesture coming two years after is seen as an insult to the electorates whose expectations were very high as per the promise made by these elected Senators. Councilors saw this gesture as a form of preparing for 2018 election which they say the Senators have fallen short of expectation and should not expect anything much from them.
Donga Mantung Councilors that turn up in Nkambe for this maiden visit of the Senators had high hopes of at least taking home FCFA 200.000 each as promised in 2013 only to be given FCFA 10.000 each as transport. Those from Nwa rejected the money saying they cannot travel from far away Nwa just be insulted with meager FCFA10000 which is not half of their fare from Nwa and back. The Mayor of Nwa Council Ngomfe David Loma who had collected the money and himself very bitter opted to make up for this money from his pocket just to appease his Councilors and safe the face of these Senators. Some Fons of the Division that turn up on invitation were given FCFA 2000 each as transport with some coming as far as Akwaja in Ako with a fare of FCFA 10.000 to Nkambe.  During question and answer session a councilor from Nwa asked what has become of the micro-project money of late Senator Jikong Stephen and the respond by Senator Fon Teche was so unconvincing stating that the standing orders of the Senate has not made provision on how late Senators’ micro-grants are collected and managed. Many questioned whether the lower House which makes available such sums to the nearest Parliamentarian to manage is different from the upper house. The head of the team Senator Simon Achidi Achu had complained to the councilors that all has not been rosy and that they are lucky that up to now their properties have not been seized by creditors who gave out huge loans for their campaigns in to the Senate. In Wum councilors and Chiefs protested against their Senator, Wallang David Akwo questioning what he has done with two years micro-grants. The Fons rejected the meager 2000 given as transport.

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