By: Fatou Krubally
In a startling revelation at the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, the clerk of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Ousman Gaye testified that some councillors do not grasp the rules of the procedure despite being provided with the necessary tools.
This lack of understanding has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the council, he told the Commission on Monday.
Gaye, who has been serving as the clerk of KMC since December 2017, stated, “Some of the councillors do not understand the rules of procedure even though the KMC provides them with all the required tools.”
He continued, “There was a problem of lack of interest on the part of the councillors to read.”
Gaye highlighted the challenges some councillors face in reading and comprehending important documents such as the Local Government Act and the Financial Manual for Local Government Councils.
Gaye further revealed that the council had recently made changes to the approval threshold for payments by the CEO, noting that the threshold was lowered from D500,000 to D100,000.
Gaye emphasized, “The CEO has the authority to approve payments below D500,000, but the threshold was adjusted to D100,000.” This decision was made under the new council led by Talib, which also discussed the suspension of staff loans and the granting of salary advances to councillors instead.
The clerk also shed light on discussions within the council regarding the allocation of ward funds, stating, “After the allocation, the ward development committee is required to retire before accessing another allocation.” However, questions arose about the retirement of these funds by the ward development committees. Gaye clarified, “We only provide a covering note and make copies. We give the originals back to the councillor to take to the office of the CEO. We only keep photocopies.”
The testimony of Ousman Gaye has brought attention to the challenges faced by the Kanifing Municipal Council in upholding proper procedures and ensuring accountability among councillors. The revelation that some members lack an understanding of the rules of procedure raises concerns about the council’s effectiveness and transparency. As the Local Government Commission continues its inquiry, the KMC must address these issues and promote a culture of compliance and accountability among its members.