The Majority Leader, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke has exonerated Kwara State Government from allegation of diverting councils’ fund through Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC).
Hon. Oyeleke during a radio programme at the weekend, stated that Kwara State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has taken no money from the JAAC.
His words: “I can tell you categorically that Kwara State Government under the leadership of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has not taken any money from JAAC which is the joint account for all the 16 local government areas in the state.
โTo the best of my knowledge as the Majority Leader of Kwara State House Assembly since 2015, the state government is not diverting councils’ fund. The monthly allocation to Councils from federation account goes directly to the joint account while allocation for the state goes to state account.
“The fund that is coming to local governments from federation account is not enough for them to meet their financial obligations. Councils in the state usually share allocation accrued to them at the monthly JAAC meeting.”
The lawmaker however urged council chairmen to be innovative and device means to increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He said local governments must increase their IGR and avoid wasteful spending in order to meet financial obligations such as payment of salaries/pensions and other services to bring dividends of democracy the people.
Speaking further, Hon. Oyeleke urged the councils to invest in agriculture to boost their IGR, noting that members of Kwara State House of Assembly jointly invested N40million in soya beans planting in 2017 and made N60million profit.
