Bimbola Oyesola

After the failure of state governors to stop the take-off of the guidelines issued by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on the operation of local government funds, the guideline has finally taken off to the admiration of local government workers across the country.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo,  Akwa Ibom State, had rejected an application brought before it by the  state government seeking to stop the commencement of the guidelines which many have seen as a way of President Muhammadu Buhari bringing to bear on local government autonomy in the country after state governors frustrated the passage of the local government autonomy bill by the National Assembly.

The local government workers under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC); are full of praises for the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) .

The two unions commended the Federal Government and the financial institutions who have adhered strictly to the guidelines of the NFIU on Joint State-Local Government Account and local government funds.

President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, told journalists in Abuja that the smooth take-off of the guidelines and the way the banks have cooperated for its smooth take off was encouraging despite stiff opposition from the governors who were only bent on their selfish desires to mismanage funds meant for the local governments.

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Khaleel said “the Federal Government, especially President Muhammadu Buhari should be commended for standing on the side of the people, rule of laws and the development of the country, by insisting on NFIU guidelines. Also, the Financial institutions must be commended for strict adherence to the rules, while we praise the Unit itself for leading the way in doing a very good job.”

The Guidelines issued by the agency commenced June 1, 2019 after the governors failed to secure a court order stopping its implementation.

The agency had on May 6, 2019, issued the guideline to reduce the vulnerabilities created by cash withdrawals from local government funds throughout the country and restored the full mandate of the operations of State/Local Government Joint Accounts to be used solely for the distribution of funds directly to the accounts of the local governments.

Banks were requested to ensure the full implementation of the guidelines with effect from June 1, 2019.

Comrade Khaleel said the NFIU initiative will halt the looting of local government funds and bring about development that have been lacking under the previous system, to the local government.