You Lack Authority To Supervise LG Allocation Spending – Osun APC To Lawmakers
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the House of Assembly has no power to oversee how local government funds are spent.
The party accused the assembly of overstepping its constitutional boundary on the lingering issue of the local government allocations in the state.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the state lawmakers, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olumide Tiamuyu, on Monday, warned that only duly authorised officers under the employment of the Local Government Service Commission are permitted to be signatories to the council accounts.
The assembly said any attempt by unauthorised persons to access local government funds was unlawful and unconstitutional.
The lawmakers also warned commercial and other financial institutions operating in the state against allowing unauthorised officials as signatories to local government accounts.
But the APC, in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, on Tuesday, said the lawmakers cannot investigate how the local government funds are being utilised.
According to the party, “It is an aberration for State Houses of Assembly to seek to take over financial supervision of Local Governments in whatever form and under whatever guise
“It is essential to point out that the Sections of the Constitution that the rubber-stamp lawmakers cited clearly provide that after laws are made, the State House of Assembly can investigate any organization administering these laws.
“The spirit of the autonomy judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, guaranteeing financial freedom of Local Governments, is to make this third tier of government a government in all its connotations.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
