Last week, we discussed the financial accountability of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), which is in a complete state of disarray. In total, 52 NDCs, representing 80 per cent of NDCs, did not have audited accounts for the last five years of which 18 entities have also never produced audited accounts since they were established in 1994. This sorrowful state of affairs is attributable mainly to the failure of:
* The NDCs to honour their obligations to ensure timely financial reporting of how the funds received from the Treasury as well as from residents in the form of rates and taxes, have been utilised;
* The Ministry of Local Government, headed by two Cabinet Ministers and assisted by two former Ministers of Local Government, whose responsibility it is to oversee the operations of the NDCs;
* The Audit Office for the apparent laissez-faire attitude in not ensuring the timely audit of NDCs
