DESIRE LORDSON
Rivers State Government has called for internal control measures in Government Agencies, in order to check financial activities.
The position was made by the representative of Governor Siminalaye Fubara, who is a Director of Audit, Rivers State Government, Dr. Yorkina Christian at the Financial and Accountability Retreat for Sub-Nationals and Civil Societies in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Christian said there is need for value on every money spent in public Offices.
“My emphasis is on deliberate effort by all relevant Bodies to set up strict internal control measures, customizing it in the respective MDAs they have.”
Earlier, the Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, Victor Muruoko (Esq), explained that the workshop seeks to enlighten citizens on the importance of accountability, in handling public funds.
“This is part of our effort to support citizens in pursuance of Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency, such as strengthening oversight, the role of Civil Society Organizations in promoting Fiscal Responsibility, there is a lot of gap, but we want to see how we can help you fill that gap, unbundling the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
Another staff of FRC, Mrs. Victoria Adiwu-Angakuru, in one of the presentations on; Deepening Budget Transparency, Moving beyond Compliance to Meaning citizen engagement and the Resident Commissioner, Independent corrupt practices and other Related offences, ICPC, Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs. Ekere Usiere called for citizens responsibility in accountability.
Two members of the Civil Society, Mr. Franklyn Nelson and Chief Constance Meju, commended the FRC and OrderPaper, for the workshop.
They called for collaborative effort from citizens to transparency and to reach the rural dwellers with the message of accountability and other basic rights.
In a communique jointly signed by Head Secretariat, FRC, Fatima Abubakar and some others, participants unanimously agreed amongst others that the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, should be amended to include sanctions in the enforcement of the Act.
