Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has disassociated himself from those alleged to have been stealing funds meant for the Local Governments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
In a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, noted that the Akeredolu’s administration has not touched funds meant for Local Governments since its inception.
“As a matter of policy, monies meant for Local Governments are shared at their monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC). Mr Governor doesn’t touch local governments funds.
“The local government Chairmen can attest to the fact that they have total freedom in the management of their funds,” the statement added
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja, has flayed the tendency of some chief executives to encourage corruption at the local government system, thereby inhibiting development at the grassroots.
The President who spoke at a parley with members of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) No. 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru as contained in statement released by his aide, Garba Shehu.
Nigerian President narrated his personal experience on stemming the tide of corruption in the local government system after the presentation of the report of NIPSS SEC 44.
After listening to comments on the Course 44 presentation, themed ‘‘Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities”, by some members of the Federal Executive Council, aired their personal views on enhancing the autonomy of local governments, the President narrated his own experience on the treatment of local governments by some State governments.
‘‘I found it necessary to digress after reading my speech and this digression is as a result of my personal experience.
‘‘What they did, this is my personal experience, if the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the Chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The Governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.
‘‘And then the Chairman of the local government must see how much he must pay in salaries and to hell with development. When he pays the salaries of the bigman, the balance he will put in his pocket.
‘‘This is what’s happening. This is Nigeria. It’s a terrible thing; you cannot say the person who was doing this is not educated.’’
Buhari urged public office holders to be guided by their conscience and personal integrity wherever they find themselves.
He pledged that the recommendations contained in the presentation of SEC 44 will be painstakingly studied by the Government with the view to implementing its recommendations.