Ogun 20 LGs Receive N3.893BN For February Allocation.. Shop For N255,29m To Pay Salaries, Other Charges

The 20 Local Government (LGs) in Ogun State have received their shares of the Federation Account Allocation, totalling three billion ,eight hundred and Ninety- Three million,nine hundred and fifty-nine thousand, two hundred and seventy-one naira,thirty-one Kobo (N3,893,959,271.31) for the month of February 2023 even as the local councils shop for a shortfall of N255,298,375.31to balance payment of salaries of workers and other first-line charges for the month

The State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo  revealed this during  the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting for March 2023, held at Oba’s Conference Hall, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Okubadejo represented by the 

represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Treasury and Accountant-General, Babatunde Aregbesola, explained that a sum of N4,466,318,898.35 would be needed for the payment of first-line charges, which included Primary School Teachers’ Salaries, Local Government Staff’ Salaries, Pensions, Traditional Councils, Payment of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Arrears and Statutory Payment to Local Government Service Commission.

He gave the breakdown of the N3,893,959,271.31 collected as a statutory allocation for the month of February to include Value Added Tax (VAT), Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), Forex Equalisation and Non-Oil, representing shares to the 20 LGs in the State.

Others, according to him were the January and February 2023 Leave Bonus to State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Local Government Staff and other charges, saying this excluded PAYE and five percent on Pension, amounting to a total of N317,061,251.73, which are yet to be effected, while a sum of N255,298,375.31 remains as a gross deficit for the month.

 Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, who declared the meeting open, urged the local government chairmen to intensify efforts on improving their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

Hamzat however sought the approval of the Committee to allow payment of leave bonuses on a monthly basis as promised by the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for the State’s workforce.

 In his response, Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Ogun State Branch, Babatunde Emilola-Gazal moved the motion for the approval of the payment of the Leave Bonus, while the Remo North and Ifo LGs Chairmen, Honourable Odunsi Adedapo and Kikelomo Delano seconded the motions respectively.

On his part, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ogun State, Comrade Ayuba Olatunji appreciated the government for keeping to the promise of paying the leave bonus on a monthly basis.