The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of violating the Local Government Finance Law through its handling of local government (LG) funds.
Hon. Sarafadeen Awotunde, ALGON Chairman, in a statement stated that the law is unambiguous, saying only Directors of Finance and Directors of Administration are legally recognised as signatories to local government accounts.
He stressed that the APC ALGON is using politicians as signatories to operate local government accounts, which is a direct violation of the law.
Awotunde added that the APC led chairmen has no legal backing to draw salaries, appoint officials, adding that it is illegal to pay salaries of the said appointees.
According to him, the law also clearly specified what local government funds are meant for. Despite this, the APC is not paying the salaries of local government workers.
“Instead, funds are being used to pay people who were sacked by the court, and whose self-assigned tenure has lapsed.
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“Those who have no tenure or who were removed by the court cannot appoint any officials and cannot be paying salaries. What is playing out is illegality built on illegality. Nothing legal can be built on an illegal foundation.
“Hence, the APC chairmen without any mandate cannot draw salaries, cannot appoint officials, and cannot pay salaries to so-called appointees. Any action taken by such persons has no legal basis.
“APC erred by violating the local government finance laws. UBA erred by opening accounts with illegal signatories, and the bank violated the law by paying local government funds to individuals without any legal mandate.”
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