Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Members of Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) in Ogun State, have informed the State House of Assembly that no fund meant for Local Government councils was diverted by the State Government.
This claim was made when members of the JAAC appeared before the House to clarify the allegation of LG fund diversion by the suspended Ijebu East Local Government, Chairman, Mr Wale Adedayo, against the state government.
The members include : Mr. Tunde Aregbesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dr. Rotimi Akinlesi, State Chairman, Association of Local Government Chairmen and Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government Council, Tunde Emiola Gazal; Chairman, Association of Local Government Pensioners, Pastor Benedict Ademoye and representatives of SUBEB, among others.
They said that every fund approved by the Committee consisting of stakeholders passed through the various Local Government Council Accounts.
JAAC also explained that the process of fund administration for JAAC always takes place monthly at a meeting which included the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and his Permanent Secretary, the 20 Local Government Chairmen, Commissioner for Finance, State Accountant General, President and Secretary of NULGE, representatives of Traditional Councils in the State, Local Government Service Commission, Bureau of Local Government pension and representatives of LG Pensioners amongst others.
They noted that it was at the meeting that all first line charges including Primary School Teachers’ salaries, LG Pension, traditional council, leave bonus and check-off dues of labour unions are aggregated among LG Chairmen and payment made.
To them, there were instances when the State Government had to augment shortfall to allow all the Local Government Council take care of all their first line charges.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Olakunle Oluomo clarified that the Evidence Act did not allow for response to speculations, pointing out that the Assembly was yet to receive formal petition from any quarters in respect of the allegations.
He assured that when such petition was received, the Assembly would act on it immediately, urging the JAAC Team to provide all relevant documents in respect of their presentation to the Assembly for further legislative action.