Buzz Capital

LG AUTONOMY: Resign Now or Face Consequences – Oyo AAC to Makinde

AAC said the Governor’s worry about local government financial autonomy shows his administration lacks transparency.

The statement reads: “Makinde’s worry about local government financial autonomy shows his administration lacks transparency and is corrupt.

“Makinde should resign from office if local government autonomy doesn’t align with his corrupt governance style. We in the African Action Congress are not surprised by Makinde’s reaction from the day the Supreme Court granted local government financial autonomy. It’s obvious Makinde’s government lacks accountability and transparency in its dealings, which is why you see him ranting all over the media in the past days.

“Makinde’s headache is the local government funds. He knows the grassroots people will begin to demand better governance from their local administrators. Makinde is scared of being exposed, but it’s too late for him, which is why he wasted taxpayers’ money on organizing a selection process in the last local government elections.

“Makinde will not cease to frustrate anything that concerns the local government because he knows that’s where the bulk of their money comes from. His administration lacks accountability and transparency, choosing media packaging and propaganda over good governance. He should abide by the judgment and follow all due processes.

“Any kangaroo committee at the local government level to deceive the good people of Oyo State will not be tolerated. The people of Oyo State are well aware of the dividends of democracy that are about to happen if they can hold the elected chairmen and councillors accountable. Makinde should abide by the law and stop interfering with local government funds.”

COURT ORDERS BUHARI’S MINISTER, SADIA UMAR-FAROUK TO ACCOUNT FOR N729BILLION ‘PAYMENTS TO MILLIONS OF POOR NIGERIANS’

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Ms Sadia Umar-Farouk, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development to account for the payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.

The court also ordered the former minister to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered and the payments per state.

The judgment was delivered last month by Hon. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu following a Freedom of Information suit numbered FHC/L/CS/853/2021, brought by the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project. SERAP said it obtained the certified true copy of the judgment last Friday.

In his judgment, Justice Dipeolu held that, “The former minister is compelled by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to give information to any person including SERAP.

“I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021.”

Justice Dipeolu ordered the minister to “provide SERAP with details of how the beneficiaries have been selected and the mechanisms for the payments to the beneficiaries.”

Justice Dipeolu also ordered the minister to “explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translates to five percent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.”

Justice Dipeolu also stated that, “The minister did not give any reason for the refusal to disclose the details sought by SERAP. SERAP has reeled out the relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 that the minister contravened and has in line with sections 20 and 25(1) of the Act prayed this Court for an order of mandamus to direct and compel the minister to provide the information sought.”

Justice Dipeolu dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the minister.