The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of violating the Local Government Finance Law through the alleged illegal handling of local government funds in the state.
In a statement on Monday, ALGON Chairman, Hon. Sarafadeen Awotunde, said the law clearly stipulates that only Directors of Finance and Directors of Administration are legally recognised signatories to local government accounts. He alleged that, contrary to this provision, politicians were being used as signatories under the APC-led local government structure.
According to Awotunde, the development amounts to a direct breach of the law governing the management of local government finances.
He further alleged that despite the law specifying how local government funds should be applied, salaries of legitimate local government workers were not being paid. Instead, he claimed that funds were allegedly being used to pay individuals whose appointments had been nullified by the courts and whose tenures had expired.
ALGON maintained that individuals without valid tenure or those removed by court orders lack the legal authority to appoint officials or disburse public funds, describing the situation as “illegality built on illegality.”
“Any action taken by persons without mandate has no legal basis. Nothing legal can be built on an illegal foundation,” the statement read.
Awotunde added that chairmen without valid mandates cannot lawfully draw salaries, make appointments, or authorise payments, stressing that all such actions are null and void under the law.
ALGON also faulted financial institutions involved in the process, alleging that United Bank for Africa (UBA) violated the law by opening and operating local government accounts with what it described as illegal signatories.
The association called for accountability, insisting that the alleged breaches undermine the rule of law and proper governance at the local government level.
