Ogun: NULGE Accuses Abiodun Of Crippling Local Govt

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has been criticized by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in the State for crippling the Local Government.

Ayuba Olatunji, Ogun State NULGE chairman accused the governor of deliberately crippling the activities of the Local Government, which has marred their performance.

Olatunji added that both Governor Abiodun and his predecessor, Ibikunle Amosun’s administration ensured that the LGAs remained comatose by failing to remit the statutory 10% State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to them, apart denying the councils monthly allocation from the federal government.

The NULGE chairman made this remark in a chat with journalists on the issues affecting the functionality of NULGE in the state.

He commended former Governor Gbenga Daniel for injecting more funds into the local government and allowing them to be responsible for rural infrastructural development in their council areas.

Olatunji identified funding, administrative and political challenges as some of the factors crippling the LG administration in Nigeria.

According to him, “Dapo Abiodun and Amosun governments only remember local government during election period. It is then they remember local government exist. They will come and campaign and instruct the local government chairmen to mobilize people for them.

“If you want to do marriage, they will say go to local government, if they want to delineate wards, they will remember local government. But when it comes to proper administration and funding of local government, local government is nothing. That is when they will say LG are corrupt that is they are taking over their responsibilities.

“In terms of funding, all of them committed and run against the provision of the constitution. But in comparison, the OGD-led administration injected more resources into the local government than any other government in Ogun state.

“During his era, the IGR of the LG remains with the LG, it is untapped by the state government, and the funds of the local government get to the local government, when it comes to the area of participation, local government are requested to make contribution. It is from the LG’s purse that such amount is paid to the state. It is like a counterpart funding to the state government.

“The other area where OGD administration erred is the area of 10% of the state IGR that is supposed to come to the LG. But as at that time, you can see economical development and infrastructural development at the local government. Roads are constructed and maintained during that time, and markets and rural electrification are going on that time.

“Today we can see the state of our roads and that started during Amosun period. In fact, the imbroglio facing the local government in terms of funding was compounded during Governor Amosun’s administration. It is at that time the issue of taking over local government funds started, it is then all resources of local government are used to pay all primary school teachers’ salaries, on analysis, Amosun administration only contributed 20% to the funding of local government and for paying local government primary school teachers’ salaries, from the local government allocation it accounted for 70% and when that is paid, the local government is left with nothing.

“All they (governors) will allege is that LGs are corrupt, that’s why we are taking over the administration. For someone battling a headache, is cutting the head the antidote?” the NULGE leader said.