GANTA, Nimba County — Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeah Gono has defended a county council resolution that allocates US$10,000 to each lawmaker in Nimba County, saying the funds are lawful, transparent and intended to support lawmakers’ legislative engagements and oversight of local development projects.
By Franklin Doloquee / Nimba County
Speaking on Voice of Gompa Radio on Thursday, August 6, Superintendent Gono said the allocation is included in the county’s approved budget and was passed by the Nimba County Council.
“This money was clearly placed in the budget just as it was written,” she said, stressing that the item is recorded under “Legislative Engagements.”
Superintendent Gono pointed out that the county administration cannot withhold funds once the council legally designates them to specific districts.
She explained the rationale, saying Nimba County is geographically large and hosts numerous development projects from bridges to work on the Presidential Palace and lawmakers need resources to travel to districts, meet constituents, inspect projects and provide oversight.
“We looked at a one-year period and said US$10,000. Ten thousand divided by 12 months is around US$800 monthly,” she stated, noting lawmakers could use the funds for quarterly visits, town halls or other engagement activities.
She described the application and payment process as more transparent than in prior years.
‘‘Lawmakers or their caucus must apply to her office; approved disbursements are issued by check in the lawmaker’s name and are traceable through central bank records,’’ she intimated.
Superintendent Gono mentioned that paperwork showing those checks exists and that the system now creates a paper trail auditor can review.
On accountability, she averred that the lawmakers are required to submit reports on how they used the funds.
She said Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. is the only lawmaker who has submitted a detailed report so far; others have given verbal updates and have been reminded to submit written documentations.
“For better financial practice, we expect the paper report,” she intoned, adding she will continue to press lawmakers to turn in their reports in the coming weeks.
Responding to criticism that lawmakers who receive national salaries should not be paid from county funds to perform constitutional duties, the Nimba Superintendent Gono said the county’s support is intended to offset high travel and logistical costs and is consistent with local practice and the law.
“If it were wrong, it wouldn’t be resolute,” she uttered. Superintendent Gono denied there are other undisclosed disbursements to lawmakers, but confirmed a separate scholarship allocation exists: US$10,000 per district and county electoral unit, with additional scholarship funding expected from a Cavalla-related contribution estimated at about US$100,000 annually.
According to her, lawmakers vet scholarship beneficiaries and send lists to the county for payment processing.
She encouraged the public to inspect county council resolutions and budget records at the county administrative office or the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning(MFDP) , stating those documents are public.
Superintendent Gono also indicated that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has scheduled a review in September and that the county’s financial systems have improved, producing more accountable records than in previous years.
Looking ahead, the superintendent said she will continue to press lawmakers for timely expenditure reports and will propose that the county council again budget for legislative engagements next year.
She added that how lawmakers choose to use their engagement funds for visits, town halls or local events such as district leagues is at their discretion so long as spending is documented and reported.
