Local government chairmen in Ondo State have accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of diverting council allocations, alleging that despite the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy, they still receive only about ₦4 million monthly out of billions allocated to their councils.
The 18 elected council bosses, who raised the alarm on Thursday, claimed that the state government continues to route funds through the controversial state-local government joint account, leaving them incapacitated and unable to execute meaningful projects.
One of the chairmen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that while records from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) showed that some councils received as much as ₦644 million, ₦590 million and ₦405 million in June, the final amount released to them was barely ₦4 million each.
“You can verify these figures on BudgIT. After deductions and directives, all we are left with is ₦4 million to run our councils. Six months into office, we have not been able to execute a single developmental project,” the chairman lamented.
The state government, however, defends its control of council funds, citing statutory responsibilities such as payment of teachers’ salaries, council workers’ wages, pension obligations, primary healthcare, basic education, and the Amotekun security outfit.
But the chairmen insist the practice undermines grassroots governance and flouts the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment, which declared that all 774 local governments in Nigeria must receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account.
Civil society groups have also waded into the matter. The Association for Good Governance Advocacy (AGGA), in a statement signed by its coordinator, Mrs. Folakemi Benson, urged President Bola Tinubu to enforce the ruling and end what it described as the “strangulation” of local governments by state governors.
“Except for Lagos, no other state in Nigeria permits councils to enjoy full financial autonomy. This is a fundamental barrier to grassroots development and a breach of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” AGGA stated.
Reacting to the allegations, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, dismissed the claims as “false and politically motivated.”
According to him, there is no secrecy in the system, and all funds can be verified in the councils’ accounts.
He maintained that deductions were made only for statutory obligations, including the settlement of ₦3.8 billion in gratuities from 2010 to 2013.
“That is not true. Maybe they can come out openly to speak, because there is no secrecy in this system.
“The money is in their accounts, and anybody can check. Whatever we are implementing is through their budget provision,” Takuro said.
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