Oyo State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the way the Seyi Makinde led administration in Oyo State is fiddling with fund allocated to local government in the state.
ALGON, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Prince Abass Aleshinloye, on Tuesday, alleged that the State government has been engaged in a systematic looting of local government funds.
Alesinloye wrote ”Recently, Governor Makinde alleged that he dissolved elected local government administration because of corruption. And in his imagination, over N10bn had been saved since a year ago when he illegally dissolved the council. The governor lied. He did not only lie on the allegation against ALGON, but on the accumulated local fund which he deliberately under disclosed for inherent corruption purpose.”
He wrote further, “The governor claimed that the LG account now has a combined total of N12bn balance. That was a lie, he was only trying to play smart.All the 33 LG and 35 LCDAs can never have such meagre balance in the account even if we didn’t leave any money in JAAC in May 2019.
“Local government allocation from April 2019 FAAC to February 2020 FAAC was N42. 6bn excluding VAT and ECA totalling N15.7bn.
“The governor has been claiming that he is borrowing money to pay primary school teachers and LGA staff salaries, how come he is claiming N12bn? The N12bn tale is better told to the marine.”
He then called on the EFCC and ICPC to investigate Oyo State local government fund allocation and how the governor and his’ illegal’ local government caretaker committees have been fiddling with the local council fund.
He added,”Democracy thrives on the principle of rule of law and separation of power.
“Section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution provides that: “The system of local government by democratically elected local councils is under this constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law.
“Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution vests on the legislature at the federal and state levels the power to create Local Government. The essence of Local Government creation is for effective administration of the grassroots.
“Perhaps, for his inexperience in constitutional democracy, or fresh gubernatorial excitement, arrogant abuse of power or being misled or a combination of all, Gov. Makinde decided to trample on the constitution he publicly swore to uphold and defend less than 24 hours he assumed office by illegally dissolving the popularly elected 33 local council and 38 development areas.
“This illegality, absurdity and ludicrousness defined his government from the onset till today.
“But Instead of being sober and quickly revert itself, the state government went on a lying spree to muddle a clear cut case in order to confuse the public, but time and revealing facts have exposed the insincerity of government and put it to shame and public opprobrum in the past one year.”
He then stated that ALGON will continue to defend democracy and rule of law at the grassroots, noting that judgement in the appeal filed by the state government against the subsisting court order restraining the governor, House of Assembly or anyone from dissolving elected local government will be delivered very soon.
