The fraud called state/LG joint account –Gov Bello

The Niger State governor, Abubakar Bello has said that the joint account operated by the state and local governments is a fraud, and an avenue to perpetrate corruption.

He stated that the Joint State and Local government accounts (JAC) should be abolished, as it deprives the local governments from embarking on any meaningful developmental projects.

There have been several calls in the past for the JAC to be abolished to ensure the sovereignty of local government administration in the country, and forestall abuse of funds, especially by state governments as allocations meant for local government areas would go directly to LG accounts without any interference by state governments.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting on Monday in Minna, the state capital, Bello added his voice to the agitations by contending, that “Joint Account is an avenue for corruption. We have to change this idea and allow them to be autonomous. I am not interested in local government money. They should be allowed to manage their funds and even encouraged to improve on their Internally Generated Revenue.”

He lamented the reduced revenue accruing to the state, noting that in the last few months, the state had been left with no option than to go cap in hand to borrow from commercial banks to pay salaries of workers.

He also stated that the financial prospect of the state was very bleak judging from the financial mess the country had found itself and called on residents to brace up.

Bello also said that with the economic problems facing the state, the citizens should brace up for the challenges ahead to experience the much needed developments in the state.

Among those present at the meeting were some of his commissioners, including that of Finance, Local Government, Chairman SUBEB, and Head of Service. They gave a breakdown of income and expenses of the state from January to buttress the submission of the Governor on the problems confronting the state.

Source: Ripples Nigeria