Ogun LG funds controversy deepens as a group urges EFCC and ICPC to release reports on local government allocations

A civic advocacy group, LYLI, on Monday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to release reports of investigations into the management of local government funds in Ogun State.

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The demand was made in Abuja by the group’s Executive Director, Lekan Oladapo, during a news briefing where concerns were raised over alleged lack of transparency in the administration of council allocations and public contracts in the state.

Oladapo said the most troubling internal challenge confronting the administration was what he described as the weakening of local government administration across Ogun State.

“Without a robust and functioning local government administration, there is hardly any programme of the Federal Government that can work in any part of the country, Ogun State inclusive,” he said.

The group referenced the 2023 allegations made by former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, who accused the state government of withholding federal allocations and ecological funds belonging to the 20 local government areas.

According to Oladapo, developments in the state appeared to support claims that local councils had been operating under severe financial limitations.

He alleged that many councils had struggled to carry out basic responsibilities such as grading rural roads and maintaining primary healthcare centres without relying on intervention funds from the state government.

The group described the situation as a direct violation of the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments.

LYLI also argued that the alleged practice undermined efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen governance and development at the grassroots level.

Beyond the controversy surrounding Ogun LG funds, the organisation criticised what it termed the “closed-door” nature of public procurement in the state.

The group challenged the Ogun State Government to identify any major newly constructed and fully functional state hospital completed within the last seven years.

According to LYLI, the government had admitted in late 2023 that only about 42 out of more than 530 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state had been renovated.

The organisation said the figure represented less than 10 per cent of the facilities and raised questions about the impact of public spending in the health sector.

Oladapo urged both anti-graft agencies to publicly disclose findings of any investigations relating to the management and disbursement of local government allocations in Ogun State.