Nigeria MPs visit Parliament

Accra, Mar. 9 GNA- A 30-member delegation from the Delta State Legislature in Nigeria on Tuesday called on their Ghanaian counterparts in Parliament.

Before the commencement of Public Business, the delegation, led by their Speaker, Sir Young Daniel Igbrude was presented to the house by the Speaker, Mr. Peter Ala. Adjetey.

Meanwhile, the house has approved 1.2 billion cedis for the District Assemblies' Common Fund Administrator for the 2004 fiscal year. The Office of the District Assemblies' Common Fund Administrator is to ensure equitable and efficient distribution of the Common Fund to the district assemblies.

Mr. Abraham Ossei-Aidooh, Deputy Majority Leader, who seconded a motion for the approval of the budget, said it was observed that there have been "very little or no monitoring of the disbursement of the Common Fund, which has occasioned a situation where some districts use the funds for recurrent expenditure."

The Deputy Majority Leader was presenting the Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Office of the District Assemblies' Common Fund Administrator to Parliament.

The Committee recommended that the Administrator of the Fund must strengthen the monitoring and evaluation unit to ensure the effective and efficient use of the Fund.

On the regular release of the Common Fund, the Committee said "whereas the funds released were inadequate, delays have also resulted in accumulated arrears to the assemblies."

The Committee therefore urged the Ministry of Finance to ensure that funds were released on time to enable the administrator carry out its functions satisfactorily.