Oyo State Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has alleged the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde of corrupt intent for directing the state caretaker chairmen to raise N15m each for the construction of an ultra-modern secretariat complex for the Local Government Service Commission and staff pension board.
According to a statement signed by the chairman of the Association, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, the Association alleged that the governor want to use the scheme to siphon council’s funds.
ALGON said after considering the issue diligently, it found out that the directive was a fraudulent scheme to siphon Council funds by using the illegal caretaker chairmen as pawns adding, “It is a white elephant project designed to siphon money regularly from local government purse”.
Referring to the memo issued by a Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission on the directives of the Governor, ALGON said the memo was illegitimate and contravenes the constitution which grants financial, project choice and implementation autonomy to local councils. “The illegality becomes more pronounced when the huge fund is expected to be coughed out by illegal caretakers, who in principle and law must not have access to local government account. This is also a breach of NFIU guideline on local government finances”, ALGON said.
The statement stated further, “Building an imaginary secretariat is not, cannot and must not be a priority of any serious people-focused, responsible local government administration in view of compelling needs to provide good roads, renovate dilapidated primary schools, primary health centres, provide water, markets, agricultural inputs, among others, for the grassroots”.
