EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has warned that greedy politicians embezzling local government funds will face consequences, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Olukoyede stated this while addressing a gathering of activists, traditional rulers, and local government bosses at the Gombe State Local Government Summit in the North-East state, emphasizing that with the increased funding of local governments following the Supreme Court’s ruling granting autonomy to the third tier of government, local council chairmen in Nigeria’s 774 councils should develop the capacity to manage resources and implement strategic developmental projects for their constituents’ benefit.
“Even though you may have financial autonomy, you must also remember that you don’t have constitutional immunity. And so, the application of your resources will be strictly monitored, not only by anti-corruption agencies but even by the state government because it is going to be to the credit of the state government if it ensures that the resources going to the local government where developmental projects are supposed to take place is responsibly and judiciously appropriated, applied and executed.
“So, I am challenging the local government chairmen. You must add value to yourselves and develop yourselves,” he said.
To establish a structure of accountability at the local level, the EFCC chair emphasized the need to educate local council leaders on laws and regulations governing public finance, ensuring compliance and promoting checks and balances through the separation of powers. He noted that most local government legislative units are inactive, leading to chairmen acting as sole administrators, which undermines due process and accountability.
“Community leaders, even traditional rulers, it is part of your duties as royal fathers to ensure that you monitor the activities of the local government administration within your domain.
“Civil societies also, we are challenging you to do your work and rise to the occasion. We must all take a greater interest in the resources of the councils that are expended through budget tracking and oversight. Where there is evidence of malfeasance, they also have a responsibility to alert the anti-graft agency for immediate intervention.”
