The Ita-Djèbou arrondissement in Benin's Sakété commune has faced scrutiny over the delayed submission of its quarterly reports. Cécile Gbanou, the arrondissement's head, recently spoke to Bénin Intelligent about the circumstances surrounding the delay. According to Gbanou, the reports from village councils were not fully collected before the prefect's statutory tour, during which the commune presented its report.
Gbanou emphasized that the arrondissement council meets monthly and has never missed a session. However, the village councils, which meet quarterly, have experienced difficulties. With 12 villages in the arrondissement, two of which have lost their heads due to death, interim leaders are managing these villages. Gbanou noted that assembling village councilors to fulfill their duties can be challenging for these interim leaders.
The delay in submitting reports is primarily attributed to the village councils rather than the arrondissement council. Gbanou mentioned that by the time of the prefect's tour, she had already collected eight village council reports. Rather than submitting partial reports, she decided to wait for the remaining documents to arrive, ensuring a comprehensive submission.
Gbanou assured that the reports for the third quarter have since been deposited at the commune hall immediately after the session with the prefect. She expressed her commitment to reminding village heads of the importance of timely report submissions and noted that they have promised to improve their performance.
The issue highlights the challenges faced by local governance structures in Benin, particularly in ensuring the smooth operation of administrative tasks. The commune of Sakété, where Ita-Djèbou is located, has been working to enhance its governance and administrative efficiency.
Cécile Gbanou's efforts to address the delay and improve collaboration with village councils are seen as crucial steps toward resolving the issue. Her approach aims to foster better communication and adherence to administrative deadlines among local leaders.
The situation underscores the need for effective coordination and communication within local government structures to prevent similar delays in the future. With the reports now submitted, the focus shifts to maintaining regular and timely submissions moving forward.
Key points
- The delay in submitting quarterly reports by Ita-Djèbou arrondissement was primarily due to challenges at the village council level.
- Interim leaders in two villages faced difficulties in assembling councilors to fulfill their reporting duties.
- The reports have been submitted to the commune hall, and measures are being taken to prevent future delays.
