Controversy surrounding the allegation of missing local governments’ federal allocation has been laid to rest as members of the Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) in Ogun State declared that nothing of such existed in the state.
The JAAC members who appeared before the state’s House of Assembly (OGHA) on Friday, asserted before the state lawmakers that every fund approved by the Committee consisting of stakeholders passed through the various Local Government Council Accounts.
The members of the committee made the clarification when they appeared before the state’s House of Assembly on the enquiry over the allegation of fund diversion by the erstwhile Chairman, Ijebu East local government, Mr Wale Adedayo.
Adedayo, had alleged that local governments in the state had been receiving zero allocation from the federal government purse since 2021, alleging that about N10.8bn belonging to the council areas in the state was missing.
Adedayo, who was on Thursday suspended by seven councillors in the council area over about 15 allegations bordering on alleged financial mismanagement to the tune of over N50m, had in a letter written to the national leader of the party and former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, urged him to convince the governor to release monies meant for council areas.
He also wrote a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling on the anti-graft agency to investigate all allegations levelled against the state government as regards LG allocations
Members of the committee who appeared before the lawmakers included the state’s Accountant General, Mr. Tunde Aregbesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Rotimi Akinlesi, State Chairman, Association of Local Government Chairmen and Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government Council, Tunde Emiola Gazal, Chairman, Association of Local Government Pensioners, Pastor Benedict Ademoye and representatives of SUBEB among others.
According to them, there were instances when the state government had to augment shortfall to allow all the local governments to take care of all their first line charges.
Responding, the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo clarified that the Evidence Act did not allow for response to speculations, pointing out that the Assembly was yet to receive formal petition from any quarters in respect of the allegations.
