Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has warned local government chairmen against moving public money into private accounts for direct labour projects, saying such was tantamount to fraud and won’t be tolerated under his leadership.

Oyebanji gave the warning at the opening of a three-day retreat for the newly inaugurated chairmen of local government councils in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

The governor assured the chairmen that his administration would not touch or divert their allocations from the federation account.

He stressed that under no guise would he interfere with how the money appropriated for the councils is expended.

Oyebanji, who warned the chairmen and other principal officers against using his name to perpetrate fraud, said whoever was caught in the web of corruption would face the full weight of the law.

Governor Oyebanji said: “Nobody should use my name for any fraudulent thing. I have made a covenant with God that such won’t happen under me.

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“I am not going to touch your money, but I won’t allow you to spend it recklessly. Remember that humility in power is not a weakness, but a virtue.”

Sharing his perspective on how an ideal local government system should be run, Oyebanji urged the chairmen to consult widely with all the communities in order to execute projects that would have direct impact on the masses.

The governor further enjoined the chairmen to undertake projects that are 21st century compliant to reduce poverty and unemployment, and solve most challenges associated with the local communities.

He added: “This time, I don’t expect you to be buying rechargeable light that will be dead tomorrow or build markets that nobody will use.

“Nothing stops the LG from providing electricity for a town that has not enjoyed light for 10 years, because light is catalytic.

“I closed my eyes to some things done under the last LG administration to avoid rancour, but for you, we are in the same boat together.

“I can hold you accountable for any of your actions.

Oyebanji promised that his government would set up a Procurement Process and Office of Transformation and Service Delivery in all councils to monitor expenditure and performance.

The governor appealed to the council chairmen not to adopt direct labour for all projects, urging them to patronise local contractors.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Folorunso Olabode, described the retreat as a strategic way of showing that the local government was strategic to the development plans of Ekiti State.

A facilitator at the retreat, Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi, said the objective was to build a framework for effective partnership between the state and the local governments for operation devoid of division so that the citizens could have value for their money.

The Star