Local government chairmen in Ondo State have accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of stifling them of funds needed to adequately run their respective councils, despite the July 2024 ruling of the Supreme Court which granted financial autonomy to local governments.

While disclosing that the state government had released only N4 million of the N600 million monthly allocation entitled to each council from FAAC, one local government chairman, who craved anonymity, stated that the development had hindered their ability to perform.

According to some of the chairmen, who also spoke anonymously due to the issue’s sensitivity, after the FAAC allocation is released, they are compelled by the state government to return a substantial part of the funds to the Ministry of Local Government account.

The council bosses, who revealed this in Akure, the state capital, maintained that most of them have been reluctant to raise the issue directly with the governor for fear of being tagged as disloyal.

“We are made to return the substantial part of the funds into the Ministry of Local Government account, while we are left with N4 million. In the last FAAC for June, some local governments received N644 million, N590 million, and N405 million. You can verify this from the BudgIT website.

“We are still currently under the supervision of the state government. We were told that the state government is still managing our funds due to some responsibilities, such as primary healthcare, basic education, and the funding of Amotekun,” one of the chairmen said.

Reacting, Amidu Takuro, Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, berated the council chairmen for insincerity, stating that they were aware of the arrangement.

“If anybody is not in agreement, they should come up openly. We are all under the same political party, under the leadership of somebody. What the government has been doing for them is a unanimous decision. It is not something enforced on anybody,” he said.