The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, has written the finance commissioners in the 36 states of the federation not to conspire with governors to obstruct direct payment of allocation to council account.
OYOINSIGHT.COM recalls that the decision by ALGON to tackle governors made ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State to talk the council chairmen to opt out of the association.
The Incorporated Trustees of ALGON accused the state commissioners of finance of conspiring with governors to obstruct the direct payment of allocations from the federation account to the 774 LGs’ accounts.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners of Finance in Nigeria, dated July 30, 2024, and signed by its counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), ALGON threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against the commissioners if they failed to comply with the Supreme Court order.
Ozekhome stated in the letter that his clients’ enthusiasm over the apex court decision had been thwarted by the finance commissioners committee.
Though another faction of ALGON, led by Aminu Maifata, denied issuing a legal threat against the commissioners’ committee, Ozekhome insisted that he was briefed by the ALGON Board of Trustees in a letter signed by the Secretary-General of the board, Mohammed Abubakar.
The PUNCH reported July 25 that the Federal Government confirmed that it had not yet commenced direct payment of the monthly allocations to the 774 Local Government Areas.
Edun attributed the delay to the proceedings of the Supreme Court, which had not been communicated to the Attorney General of the Federation for proper study and implementation.
When reached on Monday by The PUNCH, Ozekhome said he had only seen the alleged agreement between the Federal Government and the states regarding the delay of the LG autonomy implementation on the pages of newspapers.
He said his client, ALGON, did not give him such information.
The constitutional lawyer said he was also not aware that the July allocation for LGs had been paid to the finance commissioners in states.
“If that were done, it would be a frontal attack on the valid and subsisting judgment of the apex court and there are serious legal consequences for such indiscretion,” Ozekhome said.
He added that there was no ultimatum given by ALGON through his chambers for the initiation of contempt proceedings against the finance commissioners of the 36 states of the federation if they did not pay the allocation to the 774 LGs immediately.
