ONDO LG CHAIRPERSONS CLASH WITH GOVERNOR OVER FAAC ALLOCATIONS

The 18 Local Government Chairmen in Ondo State are at loggerheads with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration over the management of monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). Despite receiving huge FAAC allocations, each council is only allowed to access N4 million monthly, sparking concerns about grassroots development.

“We are made to return the substantial part of the funds into the Ministry of Local Government account, while we are left with N4 million. In the last FAAC for June, some local governments received N644 million, N590 million, and N405 million. You can verify this from the BudgIT website,” one of the chairmen said.

The chairmen claim that the state government is still managing their funds due to some responsibilities, such as primary healthcare, basic education, and funding of Amotekun. This arrangement has hindered their ability to perform, they said.

“We are still currently under the supervision of the state government. We were told that the state government is still managing our funds due to some responsibilities,” another chairman added.

However, the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, dismissed the allegations, saying the chairmen are aware of the arrangement. “If anybody is not in agreement, they should come up openly. We are all under the same political party, under the leadership of somebody. What the government has been doing for them is a unanimous decision. It is not something enforced on anybody,” Takuro said.

The chairmen are calling for the full implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would only succeed if governance is strengthened at the grassroots.