By Ogalla Daniel
The Auditor-General for Local Governments in Kogi State, Dr. Yakubu Adabenege has lamented the dearth of manpower across the healthcare facilities in the country.
Adabenege made this known during the ongoing 2025 Kogi Ministerial Budget Defence session at the State House of Assembly in Lokoja on Wednesday.
Represented by the Director of Audit Services, Mr. Chris Emmanuel, he revealed that the office currently operates with only 18 permanent and pensionable staff, a figure he described as grossly inadequate to handle the responsibilities of the office.
The AG lamented that the manpower gap was one of the major problems that the organisation was currently facing.
Adabenege urged the House of Assembly to approve the employment of 45 personnel engaged earlier on temporary basis as permanent employees of the state government to enhance productivity.
The Auditor-General further called on the Assembly to intervene in increasing the office’s monthly overhead allocation, stating that the current funding is insufficient to meet the financial demands of the office.
Additionally, Adabenege requested the House’s support in enforcing the independent status of the Auditor-General for Local Governments as stipulated in Section 13 of the 2021 Local Government Audit Law.
Earlier, the Chairman, Special Standing Committee on Public Account, Hon. Otokiti Zakariya while appreciating the office of the Local Government Auditor General for responsing in accordance to the provisions of the law, said the House will critically study the reports to ensure compliance with legislative directives.
