The Cross River State House of Assembly has received report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on an appeal for the reinstatement of Mr. Augustine A. Dibang as Director of Finance (DOF), Ogoja Local Government Council.
Presenting the report, the Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, member representing Yakurr II State Constituency stated that the committee found out that though Mr. Dibang was the most senior Accounting officer DOF in Ogoja Local Government council and was posted to Boki L.G.A as head of final Account by the Local Government Service Commission.
The Committee noted that the powers to appoint, promote, discipline, transfer and post Staffs of Local Government Councils rest with the Local Government Service Commission; is sacrosanct, and therefore, would amount to gross misconduct on the part of any Staff to challenge its decisions.
The Committee further pointed out that to reflect the federal character principle and representativeness of all Local Government Councils in the management structure of Local Government Administration; it observed that the quota principle, if adopted could make seniority a critical and contentious factor in the appointment of managerial Staffs of respective Councils.
Following deliberation of members of the Cross River State House of Assembly on the report presented by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, the Speaker Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo declared that the House okayed the recommendations which include among others that the Local Government Service Commission Senior Staff posting with reference no LGSC/S/314/VOL.VI/416, dated 30th June 2016, should be implemented fully and all affected staff must report at their new duty posts or risk full disciplinary action in line with the Civil Service Rules.
The House directed also that in view of the fact that Mr. Dibang was already a Director of Finance and Supply before this development, the Local Government Service Commission , the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, the Auditor General, Local Government, Chairman Boki Local Government Council and all other relevant agencies should ensure that the salary and allowances payable to Directors of Finance and supplies remains personal to Mr. Dibang though he assumes a new nomenclature of Head of Final Accounts.