By our Correspondent
An independent lawyer and activist from Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Barrister Abdulrahman Njidda, has called for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of public contracts and financial affairs by the Ganye Local Government Council under the leadership of Hon. Farouk Muhammad Ganye.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Pioneer Newspaper correspondent, Barr. Abdulrahman disclosed that he has formally invoked his constitutional right to request information on recent projects and procurements carried out by the council. These, he noted, include the construction of the Ganye town entrance, renovation of the old mosque gate, the purchase of official vehicles, and other related services.
According to him, his request seeks to uncover the identities of the companies that secured these contracts and to verify whether the legal provisions guiding public procurement were strictly adhered to.
> “My aim is not to accuse the chairman of corruption or misconduct. Rather, it is to ensure that truth, fairness, and justice prevail in how our local government resources are managed,” he clarified.
The lawyer explained that his inquiry forms part of a wider investigation into whether public procurement laws apply directly to local governments in Adamawa State. He recalled the 2017 case in which a former governor of the state was found guilty of violating procurement regulations, stressing that such precedent demonstrates the importance of compliance at all levels of governance.
Barr. Abdulrahman further noted that if it is established that local councils are bound by procurement laws, then both the awarding authorities and the beneficiary companies must respect the rules — or face legal consequences.
His move has already sparked discussions within Ganye and beyond, with residents and observers seeing it as a bold step toward strengthening grassroots accountability and deepening democratic governance at the local level.
Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 empowers citizens to request access to public records and documents from any government institution. The law was enacted to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
Legal experts often emphasize that the FOI Act applies to all tiers of government — federal, state, and local — although compliance at the grassroots level has remained inconsistent. Procurement laws, on the other hand, are designed to ensure that public contracts are awarded fairly, competitively, and in line with due process.
Barr. Abdulrahman’s demand, therefore, sits at the intersection of law and civic responsibility, underscoring the growing role of citizens in holding public officials accountable for how taxpayers’ money is spent.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts by The Pioneer Newspaper to obtain comments from the office of the Ganye Local Government Chairman, Hon. Farouk Muhammad Ganye, were unsuccessful. The council is yet to issue an official statement in response to Barr. Abdulrahman’s demands.
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