Ngaraard Governor Sharp Sakuma vetoed a proposed legislation passed by the Ngaraard State Legislature (Olbetibel) that sought to create three separate accounts within the Ngaraard State government: Executive, Legislature, and Council of Chiefs.
The proposed bill will create a separate bank account for each branch of the state government, and the heads of each branch, with the State Treasurer, will have the authority to draw checks from the state treasury according to the budgeted activities for each entity.
In his veto letter to State Speaker Ngirakamerang and Ngirarois from the House of Chiefs, Governor Sakuma disagreed with the findings of the bill and said that the current system was “inefficient and inconsistent.”
Sakuma argued that the Ngaraard State Constitution granted different powers to the Legislature, House of Chiefs, and Governor and that the Governor is authorized “to expend public funds pursuant to appropriation and to collect taxes and to cause appropriate accounting thereof.” Ngaraard Constitution Article V, Section 2.
Furthermore, Governor Sakuma said such a proposal would lead to over-expenditure and create audit issues for the state government.
“The segregation of funds and separate bank accounts, as is the effect of the bill, will create a real risk of uncontrolled spending and the likelihood of over-expenditure,” stated Governor Sakuma in his veto letter.
Moreover, Governor Sakuma claims that such a bill authorizing the State Treasurer to draw checks from the State Treasury will create friction and create more work for the small government.
Lastly, the people of Ngaraard do not support such a proposal, said Governor Sakuma, who said he had brought the bill to a public hearing. “Citizens of Ngaraard are not in support of Bill No. 11-9-5R. On June 21, 2023, I conducted a public hearing with our citizens to get their comments on this bill … everyone who attended this public hearing opposed this bill,” added Sakuma.
The bill findings state that the current procedure for issuing checks from the State Treasury, with the Governor signing all the checks, is “inefficient and inconsistent with the respective authorities of those entities.”
The committee report accompanying the bill said the proposal complies with the State Constitution that recognizes the separation of the Executive Branch, the Ngaraard Assembly, and the House of Chiefs.