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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 15:58:58
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Heavy Revenue Lost at BAC
As Chairman, CEO at Cross Roads
By Sanna Camara
Fresh and authoritative reports reaching The Daily News have revealed a heavy loss of revenue at the Brikama Area Council since 2007 amounting to D23million against a projected estimate of D40million in 2007 fiscal year.
According to our sources, this was largely attributed to inefficient and ineffective revenue collection system at the Council, which the new management is determined to improve upon. BAC is said to be administering one of the largest Local Government Areas in the Gambia, and the development of road networks has resulted in an unprecedented growth of populations and commercial activities of the Council.
This according to our sources, has resulted to a considerable increase in the revenue base of the Council, which stands at an estimated amount of over D40million in 2007 fiscal year. However, our sources indicated that BAC realized a little over D17million in revenue, falling short of the estimated amount by about D23million.
Also, the non-establishment of a Local Government Service Commission for the Brikama Area Council in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government Act 2002 our source indicated, means that personnel procedures are fraught with serious irregularities that deviate from the standards of the public service commission.
Thus it highlighted another problem of role conflict between the Governor (Chairman) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Brikama Area Council, “causing the efficient management of the council very difficult”. According to our sources, although their roles have been defined by the Local Government Act (Sec.15 and 42 respectively), with the Chairperson being incharge of the political administration while the CEO responsible for the day-to-day administration. Our sources said that clearly, these roles are by and large not adhered to.
Without adherence to the Local Government Act 2002, our sources indicated that the Chairman, who is the political head of the council, sometimes assumes some executive roles, thus making the CEO less effective.
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“Brikama Area Council has been found not to have largely implemented the Local Government Act 2002. As a result the management of the council’s human resources was found to be seriously fraught with a lot of anomalies. This was coupled with serious staffing constraints, especially at middle and senior management levels, thus eroding the council’s capacity to deliver effectively and efficiently,” our source explained.
Also, the non-establishment of a Local Government Service Commission for the Brikama Area Council in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government Act 2002 means that personnel procedures are fraught with serious irregularities that deviate from the standards of the Public Service Commission.
“The absence of Local Government Service Commission also means that the personnel management matters of the Council are also by large extent left to the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer of the council with a very weak Establishment Committee. Consequently …every change of management of the council comes with it some new waves of nepotism and favoritism that seek to staff the council with people who do not possess the requisite educational qualifications and experience”, said our source.
Accordingly, Brikama Area Council, like most other councils, still continues to conduct business outside the framework of the Local Government Act 2002. As a result, our sources said that uniform standards are not being applied in the human resource management activities in particular. “The senior management of the council is mainly manned by personnel who lack the requisite qualifications, though some of them have served the council for quiet many years. This is not a desirable situation as these ‘old-guards’ lack modern management initiatives and skills”, our sources explained.
However, it added that several factors may account for the current inertia of the council. These according to our sources, include the lack of trained man-power, appointments based on political patronage, sluggish decentralisation process and role conflicts.
When contacted to shed light on our reports, the Council’s Public Relations Officer Sering Modou Joof said that the revenue loss at the Council is not entirely the Council’s fault. He denied that the reported D17million realized from the 2007 fiscal year is a correct figure, while the projected D40million he said only represents an estimate.
According to him, it is not easy to get money due to the Council interms of rates and taxes especially when one considers the fact that there are usually two parties – payers and collectors – involved in the contract. “The fault is not ours because the payers have not been coming forward to pay up and our collectors could not even trace some of the parties. This is why we even established a court here at the Council to recover the huge sum of arrears owed to the Council. Our job is to collect the revenue and plough it back to the community”, Joof explained.
On how far their Council has gone in the implementation of the Local Government Act 2002, Joof said they are still on the implementation process but maintains that the slow pace is due to the central Government’s commitment which he said, has not been forthcoming. “Some of the set-backs may be ours but others are not ours. It is not the Council that is supposed to establish the Local Government Service Commission but the Central Government”, he said.
Sering Modou Joof, who also doubles as the Principal Administrative Officer of the Council also denies that there is a human resources management problem at the Council: “Our Human Resources Management is intact. There is no under or over grading of staff or all that you claim. No ghost workers on our payroll and there is no role conflict at the Council. The relation between our Chair and CEO is as smooth as silk”, he said.
Source: The Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 16:48:30
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Just one problem for the Council even if it is inefficient,how can you get money from people who have nothing and no work?
I am sure he is right when he says
"Sering Modou Joof, who also doubles as the Principal Administrative Officer of the Council also denies that there is a human resources management problem at the Council: “Our Human Resources Management is intact. There is no under or over grading of staff or all that you claim. No ghost workers on our payroll and there is no role conflict at the Council. The relation between our Chair and CEO is as smooth as silk”, he said.
How could things possibly be otherwise ! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 18:58:11
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| This is a big problem in Gambia, employees are not honest. I remember this was exactly what was happening with the Co-operative Union employees who flee with farmers’ savings, loans and other moneys for enhancing farming and the condition of farmers. According to Radio Kankan most Gambians today would do anything to work for the Area Councils because there is where the money is, taxes collected. This habit has nothing to do with the present government. |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 24 Sep 2009 18:59:07 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 19:04:29
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Yes Janko, all you say is true BUT that is no excuse for theft,Government and council jobs are the only place
where there is money.How often have you heard tradesmen (painers Plumbers and the like ) bemoan their lot because the work thaey have done has not been paid for,because the employeer says I am sorry no money this month, maybe in a few days I am expectig a letter!!
Sad state of afferas indeed.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 20:32:08
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No, not an excuse at all, rather a very big moral dilemma facing Gambia and that has nothing to do with who is in power. In fact embezzlement in all its forms and shapes is one of the main factors that has underdeveloped and is underdeveloping the country and its productivity.
Yes, it’s a very sad condition, the question is how do we deal with it and where do we start.
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 20:51:23
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The first problem is Jobs,how to create them ? in a country with few natural resources, no industry, and a male population that thinks that sitting around making Attaya all day and talking is a great way to spend their lives,Women are the answer here.Women are more reliable and hard working than male Gambians,BUT an inbred idea that men are the best and must be obeyed is stiffling any progress,Ok there are women in The National Assembly,in the Civil Service,in the Courts,as Lawyers etc.most of these women are GOOD at what they do,but have very little actual power.
Take the recent problem of meat that was going to be processed by Gambian Butchers, what happened the KMC could not find a single GAMBIAN butcher(all male of course) to do the Job !Senegal Men and Guinee men could be found.....this suggests to me that Gambian men DO NOT WANT TO WORK,get a well dug, employ a strong little team from Mali.
Next the financial empire that is a Gambian Vision all very well,but look at the Continental Bank in BriKama that lost all the customers money a few years ago,Oh yes how many new Nigerian Banks have just opened.........shall I go on, a COMPLETE ATTITUDE CHANGE IS REQUIRED IN GAMBIA. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 22:34:55
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“… a COMPLETE ATTITUDE CHANGE IS REQUIRED IN GAMBIA ,,,”
Agreed, that something has to be done with the attitudes which I think starts with a complete turn of focus, from without to within. Self critique is very central in such an attitude change.
Women work harder in Gambia, but you know, something tells me they do everywhere. The aspect of embezzlement does not exempt women even though men tend to be more represented in that department.
Paradoxically the recourses that could create more jobs go into a few greedy pockets. So creating jobs under such circumstances would not mean advancement for the masses but the enrichment of a few, not to mention the nepotisms, favoritisms and all what not that goes with it.
The notion of embezzlement has to be the target of any meaningful attitude change, if not we would be taking the old same road and it leads to the same old town.
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2009 : 01:00:01
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“… a COMPLETE ATTITUDE CHANGE IS REQUIRED IN GAMBIA ,,,”
OK agreed but how can that be achieved,there is a saying in England ..........A fair days pay for a fair days work.......if this could become a reality in the Gambia it would increase the chances of changing attitudes ,I cannot see how that can be achieved in the foreseeable future,so what is left? The Women of Gambia can bring about this change,OK I will agree there are a few bad apples in every barrell even amongst women It is fair to say that that number is smaller than amongst the men,I read your words,"a complete turn of focus, from without to within. Self critique is very central in such an attitude change." If I understand correctly you mean that Gambians should be self critical? and not "blame" everyone else for the problems of The Gambia?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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