Makinde Cannot Demand Accountability From Abuja, Ignore LG Funds – Oyelese

Former Minister of Power, Elder Wole Oyelese, has challenged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to account for funds due to the state’s 33 local governments, saying he cannot demand financial accountability from the Federal Government while ignoring similar questions at the grassroots.

Oyelese, who is the convener of the Oyo State Grassroots Financial Accountability Initiative, stated this in a release on behalf of the group, urging the governor to explain what had happened to local government allocations over the past eight years.

He said while Makinde was entitled to demand any money lawfully owed to Oyo State by the Federal Government, his administration must also be transparent about funds meant for the state’s local governments.

“Governor Makinde, your demand for financial accountability from the Federal Government is legitimate, but accountability cannot be selective. If you insist that Abuja must release money due to Oyo State, the people of Oyo State are equally entitled to ask what has happened to the funds due to their 33 local governments in the past eight years,” the statement said.

The initiative warned that inadequate funding of local governments could worsen conditions in rural communities, citing poor road maintenance, inadequate primary healthcare facilities, neglected markets, poor sanitation and deteriorating public primary schools.

It added that underfunded councils could also struggle to respond to local emergencies and support vulnerable residents.

The group demanded a transparent breakdown of allocations due to each local government, the amounts received, transfers made by the state, deductions and the legal basis for such deductions.

It also sought details of local government expenditure, including projects funded with the allocations, as well as mechanisms through which elected council officials and residents could scrutinise the accounts.

“These questions should be answered with actual figures, bank records, allocation statements and audited accounts, not political speeches,” the statement said.

The initiative further called for investigations by the appropriate authorities if any funds were found to have been unlawfully withheld, urging that such money be recovered.

It cited the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy, arguing that councils should enjoy financial independence and receive their allocations directly in accordance with the law.

Oyelese’s group also linked its demand to Makinde’s calls for the Federal Government to account for billions of naira allegedly owed to Oyo State in NNPC dividends, insisting that the same standard of accountability should apply to the state government.

It maintained that its position was not that the governor should abandon his demand for funds owed to Oyo State, but that he should apply the same standard of transparency to his administration.

“We support every legitimate demand for money owed to Oyo State, but we demand the same transparency for money owed to Oyo’s local governments,” the statement added.

The group urged Makinde to publish the monthly allocations due to each of the 33 local governments, the amounts received, all deductions and transfers, and the legal authority for each financial arrangement.

It said residents, particularly those at the grassroots, deserved clear answers on how public funds meant for their communities had been managed.