Ogun LG Chairman Blows Whistle on Gov Abiodun’s N10.8 Billion Council Funds Diversion
The Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Wale Adedayo, has alleged that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has been diverting billions of naira from the statutory Federal Allocation and other sources meant for the local governments in the state.
In a letter addressed to former Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, Adedayo claimed that since Abiodun assumed office in 2019, he has not released any Federal Allocation or the 10% of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the local governments as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.
Adedayo also accused Abiodun of misappropriating over N10.8 billion from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), a palliative scheme initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari to assist the states and local governments.
Adedayo said that the lack of funds has crippled the development and service delivery of the local governments, making them unable to meet the needs and expectations of their people. He said that this factor contributed to the loss of some All Progressive Congress (APC) council seats in the last general election.
Adedayo lamented that his local government, Ijebu East, is in dire need of roads, water, health centres, and other basic amenities, but he has nothing to work with because the governor is withholding their funds. He said that he has become a laughing stock in his community, with many people calling him incompetent.
“This letter should have been written about two years ago. But I was wary of what many naive people would say about me. Besides, at your age and given the level of your selfless contributions to the development of our state and Nigeria in general, we expect you to be taking a well-deserved rest at this time.
“Your urgent intervention is sorely needed to convince the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, that the statutory Federal Allocation to Local Governments in Ogun State should be allowed to reach each of them as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution. Since we (Ogun State Local Government Chairmen) got on board in 2021, there has been Zero Federal Allocation to each local government. The 10% of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, which the Constitution also stipulated should go to the local government, has not been given since Abiodun got into office.
“Now, the negative consequences of Zero Federal Allocations to Local Government Councils in Ogun State should be clear for all to see. We should not have lost the last elections in all the places we did during the Governorship and House of Assembly polls if our local governments were being funded as provided for in the 1999 Constitution. I am not proud to say that we (Local Government Chairmen) have done very little or nothing since we were sworn in because the funds to work are being withheld by Mr. Governor.
“Former President Muhammadu Buhari assisted the states and Local Governments with what we call palliatives today. They called it SURE-P. The first sent to the 20 local governments in Ogun State was N2.5 billion. The second one was N2.6 billion. The third was N2.8 billion, while the fourth, shortly before Buhari left office, was N2.9bn. Not a dime of these funds was released to any local government in Ogun State. The Ogun State Executive Committee of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) had a meeting with the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, early this year. The Commissioner claimed that the 20 local governments were owing the Ogun State Government N17 billion, which they continue to deduct. But I know for a fact that my Ijebu East Local Government is NOT owing Abeokuta one Naira!
“We’ve also heard about Ecological funds and others. These have developed wings, too, without trace. It is certain that the current one being packaged by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may likely follow the same course. And we are the ones the people will abuse. I am the butt of jokes in my local government right now, with many saying one is incompetent.
“In Ijebu East Local Government Area, our people need roads, especially in the interior. They need water. The Health Centres are nothing to write home about. The primary schools are something else. It is a crying shame that, in 2023, some of our people still depend on water from the stream to drink! Great Awo provided pipe-borne water almost 60 years ago.”
Adedayo appealed to Osoba to intervene and persuade Abiodun to release the funds due to the local governments, saying that it is their constitutional right and duty to serve their people. He said that he wrote the letter out of frustration and desperation, hoping that Osoba would use his influence and experience to save the situation.
He said that he has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegations against the governor.
Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, did not respond to requests for comment.
The allegations against Abiodun are serious and have the potential to undermine his credibility and authority.
If the allegations are true, it would mean that Abiodun has broken the law and abused his position of power.
It would also mean that he has failed to deliver on his promises to improve the lives of the people of Ogun State.
The allegations are also a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government.
When governments withhold information from the public, it creates an environment where corruption can thrive.
The people of Ogun State deserve to know where their money is going and how it is being spent.
Abiodun has a responsibility to clear his name and to ensure that the people of Ogun State are getting the services they deserve.
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