Nagaland: DUCCF demands accountability from DMC

Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has expressed serious concern over the ongoing DMC sanitation workers’ protest over non-payment of salaries and pending EPF contributions for the past three months.
In a press release, DUCCF president Zasivikho Zakiesato and general secretary Arep Changkija stated that stoppage of sanitation services has caused major inconvenience to the public and highlighted a deeper financial management failure within the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
DUCCF stated that DMC despite repeated reminders released only one month’s salary, while three months’ salary remained unpaid.
Stating that sanitation workers’ demand was justified, the federation urged DMC to take complete responsibility for clearing all outstanding dues without further delay.
DUCCF said that the root cause of recurring financial crisis lay in the “fragmented and unregulated system” of market-related revenue collection under DMC’s jurisdiction.
Therefore, DUCCF, in the interest of transparency and public accountability, demanded that all market collections—including stall fees, market item rate collections, toll taxes, vendor levies, and any other charges—must be deposited into a single, common municipal revenue pool under the DMC exchequer.
The federation also demanded that yearly financial transparency report on revenue and expenditure be known to the public in accordance with the Nagaland Municipal Bill- 2023—Chapter- IV (Accounts and Audit)
DUCCF demanded that centralized pool must be strictly used for—i) timely salary payments ii) EPF and statutory obligations and iii) Maintenance of municipal drainage, sanitation, colony roads, and public utilities.
Further, DUCCF cautioned that revenue leakages and mismanagement can no longer be tolerated at the cost of public welfare. It asked all municipal councillors toadhere to the Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023.
The federation suggested that a joint monitoring mechanism involving DMC, Naga Council Dimapur, DCCI, DUCCF, and GBs to oversee revenue flow and municipal services.
It said that such steps were essential to restore public confidence and ensure that breakdowns in municipal services did not recur.
DUCCF affirmed solidarity with the sanitation workers who had been serving the city tirelessly under challenging conditions.
It said that citizens should not be made to suffer due to administrative lapses, adding that workers should not be compelled to strike for what was rightfully theirs.
Meanwhile, DUCCF reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the interests of all colonies and ensuring responsible municipal governance in Dimapur.