Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 13
Fresh on the heels of a cease-work agitation over unpaid wages by employees, the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) came under further criticism. The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) flagged concerns with regard to the duties and functions of the DMC, while alleging lack of transparency and accountability over fund utilisation has had a cascading effect on civic management of Dimapur town.
The DUCCF, which claims to represent 23 wards and 97 colonies within the Dimapur municipal area, told a press conference in Dimapur on December 13 that a system of checks and balances must be restored
According to the DUCCF, the confidence placed by the public on the councillors has fizzled away as crisis after crisis plagues the DMC.
The latest was the strike by sanitation workers over unpaid monthly wages. DUCCF President Zasivikho Zakiesato said that delaying wage payment has become a frequent fixture in the DMC. As guardians of the town, he said that the Councillors must take collective responsibility and improve their functioning. If need be, he said that ‘portfolios’ of the councillors should be rotated based on performance.
Calling for accountability, DUCCF Vice President Wojamo Yanthan said that the public has the right to know why the issue of delayed wages persists despite the DMC generating ample revenue. While the DMC has managed to pacify its sanitation workers, for the time being, the salaries of the ministerial staff remain unpaid for the past consecutive 5 months.
The alleged lack of transparency or financial accountability, according to the DUCCF, has resulted in rising prices and a loss of public confidence.
The accountability they demanded included pooling or depositing all tax revenues into a ‘common account’ to curb fund mismanagement. Besides tolls from the market, the DMC generates rental income through the commercial buildings it manages and parking tax collections. In particular, the DUCCF said that the current system of leasing parking tax collection to third parties should be stopped.
Overstaffing or employing/appointing more employees than the sanctioned number of posts was another issue it flagged.
Alleged recouping of election expenditure by the councillors was cited as another concern. In this aspect of the issue, they said that the electors are equally to blame.
With the festive season approaching, the DUCCF cautioned against unauthorised tax collection and appealed to the public to accept toll payments only with proper receipts bearing the collector’s details.
