From INIOBONG SUNDAY, Uyo
An activist and good governance advocate, Comrade Jacob Udobang has expressed concern over the non- appointment of a substantive Auditor – General for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, noting that the position has remained vacant since September 2023.
Speaking in an interview with Journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Udobang, appealed to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, to appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the AMAC, “to address the administrative anomalies and flagrant abuse of public service rules”.
He frowned at such oversight, adding that “it is a breach of the civil service laws and standard procedures to know that, the position of a substantive Auditor – General for FCT Area Councils has been vacant since September, 2023 till date without it being filled with a qualified senior personnel”.
The appeal letter to the Minister made available to Journalists was entitled; “Continuous Absence of A Substantive Auditor – General of FCT Area Council, Abuja for Two Years – Aberration and Gross Violation of Extant Public Service Laws and Standard Procedures Under Your Watch Is A Misnomer”.
He recalled that the appeal is the second time Chief Wike’s attention has been drawn to the issue, referring to an earlier correspondence, tagged: “Passionate Appeal for Urgent Intervention to Safeguard the Professional and Independence of the Office of Auditor – General for FCT Area Council, Abuja”.
Mr. Udobang, who described the FCT Minister, Chief Wike as an astute administrator, a man with undeniable stickler to due process and excellence in any position he finds himself, therefore, prevailed on him for an immediate action.
He said, his investigation for the past six months has revealed gross violations and fundamental breach of the Public service rules, standard practice and procedures under Chief Wike’s watch, as the officer acting in the capacity of Auditor-General since September 2023 was posted from the Area Council against the laid down procedures.
He said: “While the Deputy Director, who has been acting since September, 2023 was preparing for retirement, another staff from the Area Councils was posted as Director of Accounts, occupying the office of the Auditor-General since August 24, 2024 without legal instrument acting in error.
“These and many more of such practices amounted to aberration, which does not promote meritocracy in the service and office of Auditor-General for Area Council, who supposed to be independent and growing through the ranks like other establishments.
“These anomalies have resulted in internal maladministration including but not limited to the office of the Auditor – General’s inability to renew its rent over the office/property or acquiring alternative accommodations since 2023”, he stressed.
