Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has denied allegations that he diverted the statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s Local Governments over the past two years. The governor clarified that his administration had augmented the funds allocated to local governments to help them fulfill their obligations.
This response came after the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area accused the governor of diverting allocations and mismanaging funds. The chairman also alleged that the constitutionally mandated 10% of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue meant for the local governments had not been provided.
Governor Abiodun clarified that the Local Government funds are managed through the constitutionally recognized Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC). This committee ensures that local councils receive their required allocations for effective functioning. The governor highlighted recent distributions of funds to local governments through JAAC meetings, indicating transparency in the process.
The Joint Account and Allocation Committee consists of various stakeholders, including government officials, local government representatives, traditional councils, and organizations related to local governance. It convenes monthly to discuss and allocate funds to local governments in line with their responsibilities.