Ogun State Allocates N5.233bn to 20 Local Government Areas

By: Ologun Ayonitemi

The Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) of Ogun State has distributed N5,233,379,834.30 among its 20 local government areas.

The funds were distributed during the August 2023 JAAC meeting at the Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, stated at the meeting that its aim was to promote accountability, transparency, and integrity.

He noted that local government chairmen were present to represent their constituents’ interests.

Dr. Akinlesi urged the chairmen to initiate more development projects in their respective areas. He praised their achievements over the past two years, despite national challenges.

In his presentation, Mr. Babatunde Aregbesola, the Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General, highlighted that N5,233,379,834.30, sourced from Statutory Revenue, VAT, Exchange Difference, and EMTL, was accumulated for the 20 local governments for August 2023.

He said N5, 143,138,652. 75 would be used to pay the first-line charges, which include primary school teachers’ salaries, local government staff salaries and allowances of the traditional councils as well as pensions, among others.

Representatives from the Ijebu Traditional Council, Obiri of Ayepe, Oba Adebisi Okubanjo, and the Chairman of the Local Government Pensioners’ Association, Pastor Benedict Ademoye, praised the state government for consistently holding meetings which have facilitated accurate reporting of local government allocations.