On Wednesday, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) urged an investigation into the allocation of funds to local government councils in the country.
The union also expressed concern over the lack of development and infrastructure at the grassroots level.
Hakeem Ambali, the National President of NULGE, conveyed these points during an interview in Abuja.
This follows a petition filed against Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, by Wale Adedayo, the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, alleging the diversion of council allocations.
Ambali emphasized that local government autonomy was crucial and appealed for intervention from President Bola Tinubu.
He mentioned that NULGE was awaiting a report on the matter before taking any actions.
He noted that allegations of funds diversion were not new, with many ex-governors facing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) based on similar claims.
He proposed the establishment of an oversight committee by the National Assembly to monitor and investigate local government allocations.
Wale Adedayo, who lodged the petition against Governor Abiodun, asserted his commitment to the complaint and denied apologizing to the governor.
Adedayo accused Abiodun of diverting significant sums, including from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, and depriving local government chairmen of their rightful funds.
He also highlighted the lack of allocation of the constitutionally mandated 10% of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue to local governments during Abiodun’s tenure.
Despite a viral video showing local government chairmen apologizing to the governor, Adedayo remained resolute in his stance.
He asserted that he hadn’t retracted his statement and affirmed his colleagues’ right to express themselves.
In response, Governor Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, disputed Adedayo’s claims and stated that no funds were diverted from statutory allocations to local governments in the state.
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate a probe into the governor’s actions.
Showunmi criticized the viral video of council chairmen prostrating before the governor, considering it an attempt to undermine the constitutionally important role of local governments.
Some residents of Ogun State demanded transparency and accountability, calling for the governor to publish records of fund allocations to the 20 local government areas.
They also called on the State House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate the allegations raised by the council chairman.
Nurse and activist Thomas Abiodun highlighted the importance of evidence and urged the governor to provide a statement of accounts detailing how local government allocations were disbursed.
Another resident, Dapo Adeyemi, supported the call for investigation by the EFCC and ICPC, specifically focusing on the state’s accounts from 2021 onward.
He emphasized that the actions of the local government chairmen had not appeased the concerns of the people of Ogun State.
