Ogun Govt assures 20 LGs of improvement in federal allocation
By Seun Ibiyemi
Following the distribution of the federal allocation funds to the State and Local Governments, Ogun State Government has assured that there would be an improvement on the allocation in 2023, as it would not relent in bringing succour and dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat gave the assurance while speaking at the December, 2022 edition of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Hon. Hamzat stated that the 20 councils had received their share of N4,525,707,892.48, which include shares of Statutory Allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), from November 2022 allocations.
The Commissioner appreciated the stakeholders for their commitment to the success of the meeting, since the beginning of the year, noting that the economy of the country and the world would get better.
In his presentation, Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr.Dapo Okubadejo, represented by the Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General of the State Treasury, Mr. Babatunde Aregbesola, revealed that a sum of N4,525,707,892.48 was received as November 2022 allocation to the 20 Local Government Areas in the State.
Okubadejo explained that N4,327,896,210.24 would be used to pay the first-line charges, which include Primary School Teachers’ Salaries, Local Government Staffs’ Salaries, Pensions, Traditional Councils, Payment of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Arrears, Statutory Payment to Local Government Service Commission, Release to Local Government and other charges, saying this excluded PAYE and five per cent Bond on Pension amounting to N312,860,888.22, while the sum of N510,672,570.46 remains as gross surplus for the month.
On his part, the Executive Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Emilola-Gazal, lauded the State Government for always coming to the aid of the LGAs at augmenting funds from federal allocation throughout the year, calling for the review of funds allocated to the councils as the third tier of government, in order to have the desired development at the grassroots.
