The Kwara State Government has re-echoed the independence of all Local Government Councils in the running of their affairs without interference from any quarters.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Arc. Aliyu Mohammad Saifuddeen (FNIA) emphasized this while featuring on a live programme tagged "GOOD MORNING KWARANS" at the Kwara Television Service during the weekend.
Arc. Saifuddeen said as the Commissioner saddled with the cabinet responsibility of supervising and monitoring the activities of the Third Tier of Government, he can emphatically say that since the inception of the present administration in the State, no single kobo of the Local Government's money was missing or diverted by anyone.
The Commissioner described his Ministry as a bridge between the State Government and the Third Tier of Government with a clearly defined supervisory and monitoring of the day-to-day smooth running of the Council Areas.
While making further clarification on the allocation accrued to the Councils from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), Arc. Saifudeen disclosed that only officials of the Ministry of Finance were recognised to attend FAAC meetings.
He stated further that the officials will only avail him of the paper distribution of allocations to each Council Area, pointing out that it is the responsibility of FAAC to credit each Local Government account directly in accordance with Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit guidelines.
According to the Commissioner, upon the completion of FAAC meeting, the Local Government Allocation meeting would be convened which comprised all Directors of Personnel Management and Local Government Treasurers as statutory members, with officials of the State Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development as observers.
Meanwhile, officials of the Local Government Service Commission, SUBEB and Labour Unions attend the meeting to deliberate on payment of first line charges such as Salaries of Local Government workers, SUBEB Teachers, Pension payments and as well as provision of N100 Million Naira monthly for gratuity payment, among others.
On Chieftaincy matters, Arc. Aliyu said the recent presentation of Letters of Appointment to Six (6) newly appointed Traditional Rulers was as a result of vacant stools, adding that other vacant stools would be filled in earnest.
Oba Azeez Bolaji,
Press Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.
