The Speaker Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, on Tuesday accused some commissioners in the state of incompetence and non-performance, saying they have failed despite huge resources the state government has invested in their ministries.
Mr. Nwifuru spoke during a plenary session of the house after some committee chairmen presented interim reports of their oversight functions.
The speaker also accused lawmakers of laziness and un-seriousness in their oversight function of the ministries.
He expressed dismay over the attitude exhibited by some commissioners who he accused off lacking the political will and the knowledge to pilot the affairs of their ministries.
“It is unfortunate that the set of Commissioners we have now under this present government have exhibited high level of incompetence.
“In the Ministry, you the lawmakers are the Chairmen. The commissioner is like your secretary and that’s why if you invite them, they will come and explain to you what they are doing because you appropriate the fund they are using”.
“You need to checkmate and oversee what they are doing and to make sure they are doing it in a proper way. We can’t fold our hands and say government is doing well. I only see the Ministries of Works and Power as the only ministries that are doing well.
“Apart from these two ministries earlier mentioned, other ministries and their commissioners are not performing. But the House members are also not performing because they are not doing anything. Nobody is serious, nobody is issuing query, we need to investigate them. There is the need for the House of Assembly to properly investigate the commissioners.
“We need to investigate their activities and make sure that all of them are performing their duties and if they are not performing, we recommend (for) their sack,” the speaker said.
The Speaker said henceforth, the House Committees would embark on a comprehensive supervision of the ministries.
“As chairmen of different committees, you need to visit the ministries and anyone found to be incompetent, you should recommend (for) his sack.
“We must do our job and not allow commissioners in the state tarnish the image of the state government. Not when the Governor is trying to put things on ground, we will not compliment his efforts.
“As you embark on oversight function find out how much the state government has so far appropriated to the ministries because I’m aware that the state governor has appropriated huge sums of money to them”.
“The Commissioners will tell you stories from now till tomorrow but they are doing nothing . We must get to know what is happening because Ebonyi people are tired of stories, what they need is action.”
Mr. Nwifuru said the House would go all out to investigate any commissioner that engages in fraudulent activities and ensure they are brought to book. (Premium Times)
