OGUN INCREASES LGAS’ ALLOCATION WITH OVER N2BILLION IN 6 MONTHS

  OGUN INCREASES LGAS’ ALLOCATION WITH OVER N2BILLION IN 6 MONTHS

The Ogun State Government has disclosed that it has increased the Local Government allocation with over N2billion in the last six months, contrary to the believe that the government has been using the allocated fund to its advantage.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape made this known during the June 2021 Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting (JAAC) at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that the present administration operates an open system, assuring that it would not hide any fact from members of the public.

Afuape said the statutory meeting was in line with the Nigerian constitution, adding that it had become a usual practice, since the inception of the present administration to always invite all the  stakeholders, which includes, Local Government Chairmen,  representatives of Pensioners, NULGE, Traditional rulers, among others on monthly basis to discuss on the allocation from the Federal Government.

“This statutory meeting is backed by the Constitution; the purpose is to come together and look into the allocation of the Local Government. This will prevent the misconception that it is the State Government that make use of council’s funds, everybody will have the opportunity to see what comes to Local Government Areas and how it was disbursed”, Afuape said.

He said apart from the augmentation, the State Government had also given grants to the Local Governments to execute people-oriented projects, at two different occasions, adding that the present administration would continue to provide for the needs of the people, particularly at the grassroots.

On his part, the Transition Committee Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government, Hon. Obafemi Onakoya, said it is expedient that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Local Government Areas should be improved upon, to lessen their dependency on the Federal Government’s allocation.