Akeredolu denies stealing public funds; pleads transparency, accountability, and integrity
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu says he is not among Governors who collude with council Chairmen to steal and share council funds meant to development the grassroots and lift the rural poor, a charge levelled by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“What they [Governor] did, this is my personal experience, if the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the [local government] Chairman, but he will sign that he received N100 million.
“The Governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with,” Buhari disclosed on Thursday.
Akeredolu reacted at the weekend, saying, speaking for himself, he does not tamper with council funds allocated from Abuja or generated internally.
He clarified in a statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary Richard Olatunde that his administration has not received 13 per cent oil derivation, subsidy, and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account since 2021.
“As a matter of policy, monies meant for local governments are shared at their monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee. Mr Governor doesn’t touch local government funds.
“The local government chairmen can attest to the fact that they have total freedom in the management of their funds,” the statement said.
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Abuja money dedicated to payment of salaries and pensions
“The monthly FAAC receipts are devoted to the payment of salaries and pensions as agreed by labour leaders at the monthly meetings presided over by the Head of Service and Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council,” the statement explained, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
“Despite … Akeredolu’s vow to always pay salaries and pensions as and when due, the financial crisis across the country occasioned by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in non-payment of salaries in full for some months.
“As of January 2022, the government owed four months’ salary arrears as against the seven months inherited …. Akeredolu, having promised the civil servants in the state to prioritise payment of salaries, has continued to clear these backlogs of arrears.
“On three occasions this year, the government has paid double salaries in a month, thereby reducing the arrears. All salaries will be cleared before the year ends.
“If the amount expended on these infrastructural projects and payment of salary arrears is juxtaposed with the refunds, it is crystal clear that the monies were not mismanaged in Ondo State.
“The administration of … Akeredolu stands on the tripod of transparency, accountability, and integrity. We will continue to hoist the flag of transparency in governance while pursuing excellence in the journey to transform the state for the better.”