Africa-Press – Gambia. The Director of Administration at the Banjul City Council (BCC), Sandigi Njie, has told the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that serious gaps exist in the council’s asset management, alongside questionable employment practices involving prolonged internships.
Njie, who appeared before the commission on Thursday, said he carried out an inventory and traceability assessment for council assets but noted the exercise could not be fully implemented due to lack of time, resources, and technical capacity at the time. He revealed that while a detailed asset register was initiated, including site visits to facilities like the Crab Island Sustainable Development Centre, the final phase did not materialise as planned.
He told the commission that assets acquired through an EU-funded project, including QuickBooks accounting software worth GMD 221,000 and an integrated HR and payroll system valued at GMD 335,000, were never fully installed or used. According to him, the council lost almost half a million dalasis in taxpayers’ money due to this failed software procurement, an issue that was later flagged by auditors.
Njie also raised concerns about a growing trend of turning internship placements into backdoor employment at the council. He explained that while internships are traditionally short-term and skills-based, some individuals have remained in these positions for over a year, often without proper induction or supervision. He warned that such practices risk unfairly blocking opportunities for qualified job seekers who would otherwise compete for full-time roles.
He further presented letters and memos he wrote to the council’s CEO between 2018 and 2022, questioning prolonged acting positions, uncollected trade license arrears, and the auction of a former mayor’s official vehicle. Njie claimed he received little or no response to these queries.
Appearing frustrated, he questioned the lack of visible projects funded directly from taxpayers’ money over the last five years, saying most projects were supported by donors or partners.
He concluded by urging the commission to examine discrepancies between council officials’ public statements and their testimonies under oath, referencing conflicting remarks made at National Assembly hearings.
The Local Government Commission continues to hear witnesses as it probes governance, procurement, and employment practices within local councils across the country.
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