Oyelese Challenges Makinde: Publish Eight Years of LG Funds -

The Former Minister of Power, Elder Wole Oyelese, has challenged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to account for funds due to the state’s 33 local governments, insisting that financial accountability must not be selective.

Oyelese, convener of the Oyo State Grassroots Financial Accountability Initiative, made the call in a statement urging the governor to disclose details of local government allocations over the past eight years.

He argued that while Makinde was justified in demanding that the Federal Government account for funds allegedly owed to Oyo State, his administration should also explain how money meant for local councils had been managed.

“Governor Makinde, your demand for financial accountability from the Federal Government is legitimate, but accountability cannot be selective,” the statement said.

The group warned that inadequate funding of local governments could worsen the state of rural roads, primary healthcare facilities, public primary schools, markets and sanitation services, while limiting councils’ capacity to respond to emergencies and assist vulnerable residents.

It called on the state government to publish a detailed breakdown of allocations due to each local government, the amounts received, transfers made, deductions and the legal basis for such deductions.

The initiative also demanded records of expenditure, projects funded through the allocations and mechanisms through which elected council officials and residents could scrutinise local government accounts.

“These questions should be answered with actual figures, bank records, allocation statements and audited accounts, not political speeches,” it stated.

The group further called for investigations by relevant authorities and the recovery of any funds found to have been unlawfully withheld.

Citing the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy, the initiative maintained that councils should enjoy financial independence and receive their allocations directly in accordance with the law.

It linked its demand to Makinde’s calls for the Federal Government to account for billions of naira allegedly owed to Oyo State in NNPC dividends, insisting that the same transparency should apply to funds meant for local governments.

The group, however, clarified that it was not asking the governor to abandon his demand for money allegedly owed to the state.

“We support every legitimate demand for money owed to Oyo State, but we demand the same transparency for money owed to Oyo’s local governments,” it added.

It urged Makinde to publish monthly allocations to the 33 councils, the amounts received, all deductions and transfers, and the legal authority for each financial arrangement.

The initiative said residents deserved clear answers on how public funds intended for grassroots development had been managed.