The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned local government chairmen in the country diverting allocations meant for their local governments.
Ohanaeze said the warning is a declaration of the organisation’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and the rule of law in the local governance system.
The advisory is contained in a statement issued by Ohanaeze’s factional Deputy President-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
Ohanaeze applauded the federal government’s directive mandating all local governments to establish dedicated accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to enable them receive direct allocations from the federation account.
“This policy not only aligns with the Supreme Court ruling advocating for direct disbursement to the councils, but also serves as a crucial mechanism to combat the financial malfeasance that has historically plagued our local governance.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo regards this development as a significant stride towards promoting transparency and responsible governance at the grassroots level.
“To the chairmen of the 95 local government councils s in the South East, we emphatically remind you that adherence to the guidelines set forth by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) is not optional.
“The NFIU has been tasked with the vigilant monitoring of the utilization of these funds, ensuring compliance with the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance. Deviations from these standards will be met with severe legal repercussions.
Read Also: Mbata gets 7-days ultimatum to resign as Ohanaeze president
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo in its unwavering commitment to uphold the integrity of our communities, is prepared to collaborate closely with a team of anti-corruption agents drawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Our united front aims to scrutinize any actions taken by South-East local government officials who may act as conduits for governors seeking to siphon local government funds for personal purposes. We wish to be abundantly clear: engaging in such illicit activities will not only lead to prosecution but could result in imprisonment.
“The chairmen of local governments in our region must recognise the peril that lies in unprincipled alliances with governors.
“Any local government official who participates in the diversion of council funds, engages in reckless spending, or fails to honour financial obligations to essential local worker unions, such as the National Union of Local Government Workers (NULGE) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) will face the full weight of legal action.
“No promises or assurances from governors will provide a shield against the consequences of such misconduct; accountability will prevail.
“Moreover, we wish to assure the public that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has constituted a dedicated auditing committee focused on monitoring the flow and disbursement of funds available to the South-East local governments,” the body said.
