Obasanjo Warns LG Chairmen on Council Funds
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja
President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday warned chairmen of Local Governments not to tamper with funds allocated to them for the daily administration of their councils.
The President also tasked the Association of Local Govern-ment of Nigeria (ALGON), the umbrella body of council administrators, to devise means of sanctioning erring local government officials.
Addressing local government chairmen at a seminar on security and other policies of government in Abuja yesterday, Obasanjo charged the council administrators "not to put the allocations to the local governments into private pockets or divert the funds meant for the uplifting of the welfare of the local populace."
Warning council bosses with itchy fingers to stay clear of looting the funds of the third tier of government, Obasanjo said that "allocations being made to local government have constitutional rights; these resources should not find their ways into private pockets."
And to those who may not overcome the temptation to help themselves to council funds, the President advised: "Please consider taking other business. Local Government is not their business; they have no business in Local Government. Indeed, they have no business into the whole spectrum of political elected offices."
He called on ALGON to devise a means of sanctioning erring members of the association, as that will be the only way to ensure and entrust credibility into the affairs of the association.
Apart from sanctioning erring members, the President called on ALGON to reward members that have distinguished themselves in the process of delivering service to the local populace.
"Your success or failure will be measured by the improved condition of living of your people," the President told the council bosses, advising that their watchword should be transparency, honesty and diligent delivery of service to the people who elected them.
Obasanjo also called on the council chairmen not to commit what he described as political suicide by neglecting the electorates.
He explained that local government administration is a vehicle for deepening democratic values and ensuring training for future leaders, as no serious politician will afford to disappoint his people at the local level.
The President tasked the council chairmen not to rely solely on federal allocations, but should strive to improve on their internally generated revenue.
He advised the council chairmen not to engage the governors in unnecessary confrontation, adding, "Dialogue, cooperation and partnership must be used to resolve all misunderstandings."
President of ALGON, Dzeremo called on the federal government to guard against the unilateral removal of council chairmen by state governors.
Dzeremo while noting that the office and tenure of council chairmen are constitutionally guaranteed, however, pledged that council chairmen would cooperate with governors and other tiers of government.
In his opening remark, chairman of the occasion and Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Anenih warned the council chairmen against using ALGON as a trade union.
Anenih assured the council officials that government is seriously looking into the issue of governors tampering with the funds allocated to the local governments.
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