Row in Ogun over N64bn LG fund

There was a row yesterday over alleged diversion of N64 billion federal allocation meant for the LGAs by the Ogun State government.

The leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, had alleged that LG allocations, amounting to N64bn, have been hijacked in the last 21 months in the state.

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The state conducted council polls last month, more than two years after Governor Dapo Abiodun assumed office.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, Adebutu a former member of the House of Representatives, lamented that the 20 LG councils in the state were allegedly under lock and key by the state government as there was not a single project to show for the allocations received.

Reacting, the state government said contrary to the allegations, it had augmented local governments’ funds with N2bn between January and May, 2021 for them to meet up financial obligations.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, who spoke on behalf of the government, described the allegation as a figment of the opposition’s imagination.