The funds from the federation account allocation which is sent to all the local government councils in Kogi State is made up of statutory allocation, excess from crude, VAT, SNO licence proceeds, federal reserve and any other monies from the federation account. This has averaged about trillions of naira since the year 2015 when Governor Yahaya Bello assumed office. This growth has been a result of the sustained high prices of Nigeria’s crude oil prices in the international market and the removal of oil subsidy in 2023 by the All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration of President Bola Tinubu.
But despite billions of naira allocated to local government councils, (LGCs), monthly, by the federal government, the Kogi State government and elected representatives of the grassroots continue to feed the public with stories of either the state government withheld their allocation or claim that monies meant for them were massively deducted from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, (MLGCA).
Confluence Times Online gathered that the MLGCA usually deduct source monies meant for LGCs for purpose which seems doubtful. An officer close to the MLGCA hinted that most deductions as they claimed were for seminars, traditional institutions as well as primary education. The source lamented that the aforementioned institutions remain starve of funds inspite of the billions of naira that were said to have been allocated to them.
Indeed, of the billions of naira that was allocated to all the 21 LGCs in the state, since inception of Bello’s administration, some councils chairman could not pay staff salaries and execute project.
Not helping matters were the so-called political godfathers who sponsored election of some council chairmen. They were alleged of receiving substantial parts of the allocation meant for the development of the areas. It is informative that the LGCs pay the salaries of cooks, security men and drivers of these godfathers. Also the ruling party with their officials are feeding fat on the huge sums sent to the people at the grassroots, leaving the voters short changed as they are the contractors who never execute projects.
This Newspaper Online gathered that thugs are also on the pay roll of some LGCs in the guise of poverty eradication programme receiving huge amount per month. But in reality, the issue of allocation from the federation account not getting to the LGCs and money deductions has raised more questions than answers. For instance, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (MLGCA) claimed it has the constitutional powers to deduct from source, allocations meant for LGCs, but has not tell the public the amount the ministry deduct on monthly basis.
There is certainly a great need for this ministry to make public the documentation of all transactions carried out on behalf of citizens to enable them have a clear ideas of their rights and responsibilities.
