From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The accruals from the Federation Account to the 33 local governments in Oyo State amounted to N12.7 billion in three months but only N330 million was said to have been released by the state government to the ‘traumatised’ local councils.
The opposition elements alleged on Thursday in Ibadan that the said amount is generating ripples amongst the council chairmen who allegedly felt shortchanged by the state government’s burdensome activities on the finances of the council areas.
The Concerned Elders Forum within the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed worry over this matter, just as it bemoaned the lack of transparency, accountability and good governance in the state.
An APC chieftain, Chief Wahabi Gbadeyanka, said in a statement to the newsmen that the N12.7biilion represented the total amount that the federal government credited to the state as allocation of the council areas.
Gbadeyanka regretted that the said N330 million was shared by the 33 councils and the 35 Local council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
He queried what development can come from such a meagre resources to local areas?
The APC chieftain said the breakdown of the said total allocation represented allocations to the 33 local governments in July, August and September.
He cautioned against total strangulation of councils in the state, which regrettably is the closest tier to the grassroots people.
“The commissioner in charge of local governments and the Accountant General have become mere pawns in the hands of the governor to legitimise all illegal activities currently going on in the State.
“We suspect the money has been misappropriated and this will further aggravate underdevelopment at the local government areas.
“The People’s Democratic Party government needs to purge itself of various allegations bordering on alleged mind-boggling graft which by the grace of God the APC government of Teslim Kolawole Folarin will look into when he gets the mandate of our people in 2023.
“We can do better as a state for our people. Governor Seyi Makinde is depriving our people quality governance at the local governments which is the closest tier of government to the people.
“Why is the state government spending money meant for local governments’ development?
“It has stiffle the councils of revenues meant for its growth and development.
“Many of the responsibilities of the local governments have been taken over by the state government. No council in Oyo State can function effectively under the current contraption.
“And with these misdemeanours, there is no way councils can survive. If the trend continues, people of the state would continue to suffer and bear the brunt of underdevelopment.
“Development has taken flight in all the council areas and that’s why we need to support the autonomy of local governments.
“The question now has the N12.7billlion been misappropriated in the last three months under review?
“Local government autonomy is the way out because on many occasions, states undertake projects on their behalf and just asked them to append their signatures unreasonably.
It appears the state is being run at the expense of councils,” Gbadeyanka quipped.