By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Ondo State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has faulted the claim that the monthly allocations accruing to them from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) are being tampered with by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
ALGON explained that contrary to the claims, the monthly funds meant for the local government are being managed directly by the local government chairmen for grassroots development, denying any interference from Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Reports had claimed that the LG chairmen in the state were allegedly being stifled with funds by Governor Aiyedatiwa, who needed to adequately run their respective council areas despite the July 2024 ruling of the Supreme Court, which granted financial autonomy to local governments.
Speaking on Friday in Akure, ALGON Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Fasua, said the state’s council bosses have full control of their finances, paid directly from the federal allocation, and are channelling them into grassroots development projects.
Fasua, who is also the chairman of Akure South LGA, noted that since the emergence of the chairmen in all 18 LGAs of the state, the local government administration had been more effective and efficient under the current government of Governor Aiyedatiwa
“It’s not true that the governor (Lucky Aiyedatiwa) is tampering or diverting LG funds from the federal allocations. How have we been able to embark on the level of development currently ongoing in our local governments?
“Local government administration is more effective and efficient today under the government of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. We, the chairmen, are fully in charge of our finances, and anyone saying otherwise is simply not telling the truth.
“Take Akure Local Government, for example. In just five months in office, I have procured 10 vehicles for our operations — something previous administrations could not achieve within the same timeframe,” he said.
The ALGON chairman, who lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for his leadership qualities, stressed that visible grassroots projects are proof that LG funds are being used for the people’s benefit.
He also listed several intervention projects, such as road construction, water supply schemes, drainage systems, and flood control interventions, as ongoing projects across various council areas.
“Across the LGAs in the state, projects are visible and ongoing: roads are being constructed, water projects are spread across communities, and essential services are being delivered directly to the people. These are clear results of prudent management of local government funds.
“If the governor were dictating or controlling our finances, how would we have been able to achieve these feats? People themselves are applauding the impact we are making.
“Right now, we have also deployed tractors to clear waterways to prevent perennial flooding — a proactive step that is being replicated in other LGAs across the state,” Fasua added.
According to a report, some council chairmen who pleaded anonymity had expressed concern that despite huge FAAC releases to the state, each council is only allowed to access N4 million monthly, a development they argued has made it difficult for them to carry out their statutory responsibilities effectively.
They had alleged in the reports that most of the allocations are managed centrally under a joint account system, with councils required to remit a substantial portion of their funds to the Ministry of Local Government.
“For instance, in the last FAAC for June, some local governments received as high as ₦644 million, ₦590 million, and ₦405 million. Despite this, we only had access to ₦4 million for council operations. This is not enough to run our offices, let alone deliver development projects,” one of them claimed.
The Nation