ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE: A CALL TO ACTION FOR ONDO STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN
As the newly sworn-in chairmen of Ondo State local governments settle into their roles, the Ondo State Scholars Arena for Development Initiative is calling on them to prioritize transparency and accountability in their governance. In an open letter, the group emphasizes the importance of responsible leadership and the need for regular accountability to ensure that resources are utilized for the betterment of the local governments and their constituents.
OPEN LETTER TO THE NEWLY SWORN-IN CHAIRMEN OF ONDO STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Dear Honourable Chairmen,
We, the undersigned members of Ondo State Scholars Arena for Development Initiative, take this opportunity to extend our warmest felicitations to you on your recent inauguration as chairmen of the 18 local government areas of Ondo State. We commend your ascension to these pivotal positions and wish you a successful tenure, replete with exemplary leadership and prudent governance.
As you assume your respective offices, we deem it pertinent to remind you that, in contradistinction to governors and the president, you do not enjoy immunity from prosecution. Consequently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is empowered to investigate and probe you while in office, should any allegations of malfeasance or misappropriation of funds arise. The EFCC has assured the populace that it will scrutinise the utilisation of funds by local government chairmen, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability.
In furtherance of this objective, we shall continue to demand accountability from you, in accordance with the principles of good governance and the dictates of the law. We shall request a detailed account of your stewardship every 90 days (3 months), with a view to ascertaining the judicious utilisation of resources and the efficacious discharge of your duties. Any chairman who fails to respond to our request shall be deemed to have neglected their fiduciary duties, and we shall not hesitate to petition the EFCC to investigate such dereliction of duty.
We are eager to observe the projects you will execute with your monthly allocations from the federal government, and we expect that these projects shall be consonant with the needs and aspirations of your respective constituents. With the advent of local government autonomy, we hope that the era of kickbacks, wherein the state government deducted a percentage from the monthly allocation of local governments, is now a relic of the past. This pernicious practice has contributed significantly to the retrogression of local governments in the country.
We believe that your leadership will usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and development in Ondo State, and we look forward to collaborating with you to ensure that the resources entrusted to you are utilised for the betterment of your respective local governments.
Once again, congratulations on your inauguration. We eagerly await your response to our requests for accountability.
Signed,
Moyoloye Oloruntimilehin Julius
Secretary,
Ondo state scholars Arena for development initiative.
Akeredolu Tope Akinola, Esq
Cordinator, Ondo North.
Adedipe Emmanuel.
Coordinator, Ondo Central.
Lade Ebiwonno, Esq
Cordinator, Ondo South.
Odofin Oluwafemi (C-Banking)
Convener.
Email: Ondostatescholarsarena@gmail.com