Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has ordered a comprehensive audit of the accounts of all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) for the past three years. This directive to the state auditor general comes amidst ongoing political turmoil in the region.
While swearing in the new Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the LGAs, Fubara highlighted that this audit aims to hold the new officials accountable from the outset. He advised the caretaker chairmen to focus on serving their communities effectively rather than seeking personal glory, and to prove that their appointments were justified.
Fubara stressed that these measures are fundamental to maintaining democratic principles. He clarified that the opposition to tenure extensions is a national issue, warning that allowing such practices in one state could set a precedent across the country.
The governor noted that Rivers State’s use of caretaker committees is not unusual, as many other states follow similar practices. However, he assured that the tenure of these caretaker chairmen would be brief, with preparations for local government elections already underway.
Fubara also urged the new officials to handle the salaries and entitlements of the outgoing chairmen responsibly and to avoid any form of violence.