Abiodun canvassed for increased revenue for LGAs, says Ogun APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun says those accusing Dapo Abiodun, the state governor, of siphoning LGAs’ funds are ”politically motivated”.

In an interview with TheCable published on July 27, Wale Adedayo, the sacked chairman of Ijebu east LGA, said “no local government chairman manages statutory federal allocations”.

Adedayo also said that, as chairman, he did not have the authority to operate the account to which the federal allocations are sent.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Tunde Oladunjoye, the APC publicity secretary in Ogun, said the governor has always supported calls for LG autonomy and revenue enhancement.

“Before these emergency advocates and against the lies being peddled against Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor has been at the forefront of the clamour for increased funding for the local government; as far back as three years ago, some people, for reasons best known to them, pretend to suffer from collective amnesia,” the statement reads.

Oladunjoye said the governor advocated for increased state and LG allocations and urged the national assembly to support the new revenue allocation formula bill.

“That was in 2021, three years ago, and he has not changed his position on increased revenue for the local governments, which he believes will reduce the burden on the state governments,” Oladunjoye said.

“Making the proposal, the governor said the formula should be reworked to stand as 30 percent to federal; 45 percent to states; and 25 percent to local governments, as against the current stand of 52.68, 26.72, and 20.60 percent respectively.

“The governor canvassed the position in Lagos while speaking at the South West Zonal Public Hearing on Review of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

“Represented by his Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, Abiodun also noted that there should be a downward review of the allocation of the federal government to 30 per cent.

“Noting that the current formula is no longer in tune with economic realities, the governor said the allocation was forestalling the development of states and local governments.”

The publicity secretary said that the governor blamed the 1999 Constitution’s exclusive legislative list for the revenue-sharing imbalance, adding that states now handle significant additional responsibilities like security, education, and infrastructure development.

“The governor said that the state and local governments are closer to the citizenry and can meet their needs more accurately; it is imperative to consider an increase in the allocation to the states and local governments,” Oladunjoye added.

“He therefore sought the cooperation of the national assembly to ensure passage of the bill on the new revenue allocation formula whenever it got to them.

“You can then strap the recent outbursts of certain inconsistent elements and their sponsors as not only politically motivated but also thoughtless.

“How on earth can any sane person be shouting that there is zero allocation to local governments in Ogun state, while the local governments in Ogun are busy inaugurating new projects?

“Where is the money coming from? Of course, the money coming from the federation account to the state and local governments is low.”

On July 11, the supreme court ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils.

The apex court also ruled that state governors have misused their powers by withholding funds meant for local governments, adding that the federal government must withhold allocations to local governments led by unelected officials.