Olajide Osoba, Abeokuta
The Association of Local Governments Of Nigeria, ALGON has called on the Anti graft agencies to look into the management of local government funds under the last administration of senator Ibikunle Amosun.
They also begged the Ogun State House of Assembly to lift ban on their suspension on time so as to complete their tenure.
The chairman of ALGON, Semi Bola Lawal on Monday dislosed this during a press conference at NUJ Secretariat, Iwe Iroyin, Okelewo Abeokuta, Ogun State.
”Most importantly in the light of weighty allegations against council chairme, we urge the relevant Anti-graft agencies to look into the local government funds from October, 2016 till date”
”We appeal to our governor to look into and redress the issues of our welfare and entitlement in the past 33 months by the immediate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun”
They also noted that Local government has never been dissolved, saying that they remain one in Ogun State.
”We have never been dissolved, no faction, we remain one”
”We are begging the Ogun State house of Assembly to lift ban on our suspension so as to complete our tenure”
He also said that the political office holders in the 20 local government and 37 local council development Authority, LCDA in Ogun State were suspended on account of alleged financial impropriety by the 8th Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi.
According to him 20 local government and 37 LCDA in Ogun State collected a sum of 14 million naira each in seven staggered installment spread over 31months.
”That council chairmen collected a sum of 229, 000 naira each monthly salary without additional lawful allowances for this same period as provided for under the law”
”Out of 32 months in office, only 10 months security allowance of 500, 000 naira were received by the chairmen”
”Council chairmen do not have official cars , no imprest and were subjects of ridicule by the last administration of senator Ibikunle Amosun”
”Local government administration under the administration of his excellency senator Ibikunle Amosun was in a state of comatose and rendered impotent, no project could be executed, councils couldn’t be efficiently, we kept quiet under this ignoble condition for 31months out of our 36 months tenure of office , but did not consider any war against the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun”
That ALGON is not interested in any legalistic exercise and on this note we urge Bari Monday Ubani to desist from approaching the court on our behalf as he cannot shave our heads in our absence, he does not have our mandate.
That ALGON will explore option to resolve the present crisis., we appeal to the speaker, Rt Hon. Kunle Oluomo and members of the 9th legislative session to review and revise her recent time time table so as to allow the matters concerning our suspensions to be look into on time, with a view of our resumption back to office to conclude our tenure”
”Premised on the above, we appeal to our dear Governor to urge the Assembly to fast track their investigation to put an end to the current crisis”
”We appeal to our governor to look into and redress the issues of welfare and entitlement in the past 33 months by the immediate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun”
”Most importantly, in the light of the weighty allegations against council chairmen, we urge the relevant Anti-graft agencies to look into the local government funds from October, 2016 to date.
”We assure his excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun of our unflinching loyalty, cooperation, collaboration and partnership in the issues of development of our State”
He therefore appealed to the governor, prince Dapo Abiodun not to be fettered by any evil in his determination to give us the Ogun State of our dreams.
