We Need to Question Aregbesola on Osun LGs Funds

By Funmiso Babarinde

The purpose of this write up is not to discredit what is presently obtainable but to educate a sane mind on why things have to be done differently in the nearest future. Information is Key and questions needed to be asked for us not the fact behind the figures vis a vis our overall developments as a state.

LOCAL GOVERMENTS is constitutionally one of the vital organs being operated in our democratic structure in Nigeria, they supposed to have their executive and legislative arms for smooth running and the closest to the Grass root. LG is to be the catalyst of rural development and industrialization, hence the need for them to have monthly federal allocations like their federal and state governments.

Apart from the constitutionally approved monthly allocations by FG, the LGs have periodically allocated funds from Ecological funds, Sure-P, VAT, UBEC, MDG and other various financial interventions. We will later dwell on all the figures behind these facts but for today, I want us to look at isolated issue of small fractions of monthly allocation to our LGs in Osun.

Between April 2013 to June 2014, the statutory allocations to the 30LGs and Ife east area office from the table available was N47,513,099,299.76 (forty seven billion, five hundred and thirteen million ,ninety nine thousand, two hundred and ninety-nine naira, seventy six kobo) was released by the FG.

This is just a year FG allocation only, out of going to 7 seven years of the present administration in Osun. It should, however, be noted that as at today, the government of the day has created LCDAs to make up all local councils up to 64 sixty four.

THE ISSUES:

Those saddled with the responsibilities of projecting this government or whose schedule fall within the ambit of answering some or all the issues to be raised should kindly educate and inform us appropriately.

1. The information available states only 15% of allocations is made available to the LGs across board and the remaining 85% of it is expended by the state on their behalf for God knows projects.
2. Despite the monthly allocations, the state government has used the LGs projected revenue to borrow huge sums of monies for yet to be ascertained projects for the LG’s.

3.That the LGs has become a shadow of itself with a lot of staff sacked and everybody redundant when there is nothing for them to do as there is practically no economic activities, no running costs, Obas and their palaces not maintained, health clinics are bushy with no drugs, vehicles are grounded, most markets have collapsed.

4.That it was a deliberated attempt by the government of the day to perpetually be using caretaker committee in running of the affairs of the councils for obvious reasons of maintaining their hold on its finances .

To be fair and modest, can we state that what is obtainable in all our LGs and LCDAs today can comfortably justify the huge allocations and debts attached to the 3rd tier of the government?

To me as a patriotic citizen of Osun state, we all need to ask questions, make clarification before we put the faith of our state in the hand of somebody in the next available opportunity very soon.

FUNMISO BABARINDE writes from Osogbo, Osun State capital.