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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abia State chapter has denied getting allocations directly from the Federal Government, but through the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) account.
This is even as the Association of Local Government Chairmen has dismissed the allegation that Governor Alex Otti hijacks their monthly allocation from the Federal Government.
Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the ALGON Chairman and Mayor of Isuikwuato LGA, Hon. Chinedu Ekeke said since they took over, the Council chairmen do not receive allocations directly from the Federal Government, but through JAAC accounts.
“So the federal government is the one that shares allocations to both the states and the local governments. And since we took over, funds have not been coming to local governments from the federal government.
“The local governments are funded from the JAAC account because the funds go to the JAAC account.”
On the allegation that Governor Otti was hijacking Local Government funds, Ekeke said he was not aware that any fund is being hijacked.
“Governor Otti does not hijack the Local Government funds as alleged by some opposition party members in the state. There’s no such thing as that.
“The funds don’t come to the local government straight. And like I said, the federal government is probably trying to look for a way to handle that.
But as it stands, the local governments are properly funded. So you can’t say there’s a hijack.”
He informed of a strong collaboration between the local governments and the state government.
And I will tell you clearly that the state government under the leadership of Dr. Alex Otti has been funding the local government from the JAAC account.” Ekeke said.
The Local Government Chairmen passed a vote of confidence on Otti, saying he has done well and deserved a second term in office.
