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PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGATION OF ILLEGAL
DEDUCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS IN EKITI STATE
The attention of the Ekiti State Government has been drawn to rumors and insinuations by some misguided politicians and opposition elements on the allegations of purchase of buses by Local Governments for a political group named Irewolede. Such insinuation which has unfortunately been orchestrated by some section of the media has also linked the State Government to deductions of Local Government funds for some imaginary projects
2. The State Government has so far refrained from joining issues on such rumours because of its resolve not to be distracted by wild allegations and rumour which has become the past time of frustrated political elements, particularly when such allegations are not true and when not backed with sworn affidavit which would have indicated seriousness on the part of the those making the spurious allegations. It has however became imperative for government to set the records straight, because lies told many times may be given for truth.
3. Since its inception, Segun Oni Administration has operated a transparent and prudent administration and this has been attested to even by critics . It has also allowed Local Governments full responsibility for their revenue and expenditure and has not interfered in the funds of local government as have been approved the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) of Local Governments. The facts of the purchase of buses by Local Governments is as follows:
i. Chairmen of 16 Local Governments resolved at their meeting of July to purchase two buses each for the drivers union in their Local Governments i.e. National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) as loan to their members as part of the activities marking 100 days in office. A total of 32 buses were proposed. The Toyota buses were purchased at a cost of N6.4m each which include cost of the new buses,one year comprehensive insurance and one year maintenance.
ii. However, it is common knowledge that the two associations have long been at loggerheads over the control of transportation business in the State. Violent clashes have been witnessed in the State in the course of the rivalry. The Unions protested individually to the State Government that it would not agree on equal sharing of the buses as proposed by the Chairmen. It was in view of disagreement by the Unions over the buses that the Government stopped the release of those buses to the local governments.
iii. The allegation that the government deducted the sum of N2.2b for the purchase of buses published in the Sunday Sun of November 11, 2007, is not only ridiculous but out of sensible reasoning. The summary of Revenue of Local Government Council from June to September, 2007 as can be verified by the Accountant General of Ekiti State shows that all the 16 local governments in Ekiti have received the following revenue:
N3.7b (Statutory Allocation
N557.3m (value Added Tax)
N46.5m (Internally Generated Revenue)
Hence the total revenue available to run all local governments for this period is N4.4 billion. Out of this amount, first charge which covers Primary School Teachers salary, Local Government employee salary, Pension Funds, Administrative Charges and others is N3.26b leaving N1.3b as funds distributed for all the 16 Local Governments. Verified debts of Local Governments at the inception of this administration is in excess of N3 billion. It is therefore clear that no such amount as have been claimed by the rumour mongers has accrued to all local government. The spurious figure of N2.2. billion could only have existed in the imagination of uninformed rumour peddlers.
4. However if any person has evidence that State Government has deducted such amount from local government such persons are challenged to come with evidence of such deductions.
5. As can be confirmed by my office, the Local Government under this administration has been given freedom to award contracts subject to the necessary control by the state to ensure transparency and due process. More importantly, the local government have been better managed under this administration than in the past. This is attested to by the visible achievements of our local governments which for only a span of three months have surpassed the achievement of past regimes. In spite of the huge debts of over N3 billion inherited by the Local Government Caretaker Committees from the profligacy of the past, they have remained focused on implementing projects based on “community expectations”.
6. The State Government confirms that there is no faction in the PDP called Irewolede. Since his election, Governor Oni has forged a united PDP. It is a known fact that the slogan of Engr Segun Oni during his campaign was “Segun Oni de …….. Irewolede”. Many projects or groups, have adopted this name as part of their brand name for the purpose of identifying with or distinguishing the government of Segun Oni as has been done in several places and states in the country. In fact, there are so many associations who are non political that has continued to adopt “Irewolede” as a brand to associate with the government of Engr Segun Oni. These non-government organizations sponsor several programmes such as Cooperatives, Micro Credit or Poverty Alleviation programmes which add value to the development of the State. This should not be mis-represented as government sponsored programmes or groups.
7. Please find attached to this Statement, EkitiDevelopmentProject/STAR_INFORMATION_Revenue_and_Expenditure_Profiles_of_the_Ekiti_State_Local_Governments_from_January_October_2007.htm">the Revenue and Expenditure profile of the Local Government from June –September 2007
Prince Abiodun Bamiteko
Hon Commissioner for
Local Government and Culture
13 Nov,2007
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