Oyelese Seeks Disclosure Of Funds Due To Oyo LGs
A former Minister of Power and Steel, Wole Oyelese, has called on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to provide a transparent account of statutory allocations to the state’s 33 local government areas.
Oyelese, convener of the Oyo State Grassroots Financial Accountability Initiative, made the call in a statement on Thursday, arguing that public accountability should apply to all tiers of government.
The initiative acknowledged the governor’s right to demand payment of any outstanding funds legitimately owed to Oyo State by the Federal Government but said residents were also entitled to information about allocations intended for local governments.
“Governor Makinde, your demand for financial accountability from the Federal Government is legitimate, but accountability cannot be selective,” the statement said.
“If you insist that Abuja must release money due to Oyo State, the people of Oyo State are equally entitled to ask what has happened to the funds due to their 33 local governments in the past eight years,” it added.
The group said transparency in local government finances was important because councils were responsible for services and infrastructure affecting residents, particularly in rural communities.
It identified rural and community roads, primary healthcare, medical supplies, public markets, environmental sanitation, primary schools and community infrastructure as areas where local government funding could affect service delivery.
The initiative called for a comprehensive account of allocations to each of the 33 local government areas, including monthly sums due from the Federation Account over the past seven years and beyond.
It asked the state government to clarify the amounts allocated to each council, the sums transferred into their respective accounts and how the funds were subsequently expended.
The group also called for explanations of deductions, charges and transfers associated with local government funds, including the legal basis for the transactions and the identities of the officials who authorised them.
It further requested details of expenditure by individual councils, projects funded from their allocations and the mechanisms available to elected local government officials and residents to scrutinise financial records.
“These questions should be answered with actual figures, bank records, allocation statements and audited accounts, not political speeches,” the statement said.
The initiative urged the state government to publish monthly allocations due to each local government, amounts received, deductions and transfers, alongside the legal authority for relevant financial arrangements.
It added that any concerns about the handling of public funds should be referred to the appropriate institutions for examination and resolution in accordance with the law.
The group cited the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy, arguing that the ruling underscored the importance of protecting councils’ financial independence and ensuring that allocations were managed in accordance with constitutional requirements.
It said financial autonomy should be accompanied by transparent records and accountability for expenditure, with the ultimate objective of improving services for residents.
The initiative also linked its demand to Makinde’s calls for the Federal Government to account for billions of naira allegedly owed to Oyo State in NNPC dividends.
While supporting the governor’s demand for the settlement of legitimate outstanding obligations, the group said the same principles of transparency should guide discussions about funds due to local governments.
“We agree that every government must honour its lawful financial obligations. If the Federal Government owes Oyo State money, it should explain the circumstances, reconcile the accounts and pay whatever is legitimately due,” the statement said.
