Ogun 20LGs Share N4.68b For August..As JAAC Stakeholders Laud Govt On Transparency

The 20 Local Governments in Ogun State have shared N4,685,649,984.81, which include, shares of statutory allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Exchange Gain from the Federal Allocation for the month of August 2022.

The State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo who made this known in Abeokuta, explained that N4,070,874,949.67 was for the payments of first-line charges, which include, Primary School Teachers’ Salary and Local Government Staff Salary

Okubadejo represened by the Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General of the State Treasury, Mr. Babatunde Aregbesola, 

listed  other firstline charges to include payment of pension for retirees, members of Traditional Councils as well as  that of contributory pension and cooperative deductions, excluding PAYE and 5 percent Bond on Pension, amounting to N323,049,938.12, while N614,775,035.14 remains gross surplus for the month.

Okubadejo explained that N4,070,874,949.67 was for the payments of first-line charges, which include, Primary School Teachers’ Salary, Local Government Staff Salary, Pensions, Traditional Councils and other charges, while others were contributory pension and cooperative deductions, excluding PAYE and 5 percent Bond on Pension, amounting to N323,049,938.12, as N614,775,

Stakeholders at the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting where the allocation was shared, commended the State Government for ensuring accountability and transparency in  the allocation of fund to Local Governments.

The stakeholders, which comprised of the representatives of traditional rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Local Government Pensioners, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), among others, lend their voices at the August 2022 edition of the meeting, at the Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Speaking, the Obiri of Ayepe, Oba Adebisi Okubanjo, stated that the sustenance of the meeting had distinct the State among its peers in the country, saying the present administration’s strides on the overall development of the State was laudable.  

Contributing, the  Chairmen, NULGE, Comrade Ayuba Olatunji and his counterpart in the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Akinola Abiodun, said  judicious utilisation of allocated funds would enable the government provide more developmental projects across the State.

Also the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat  said irrespective of the surplus, Local Government Chairmen needed to concentrate more on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), urging them to be prudent in their spending.