Al-Makura nasarawa
Following the dissolution of the local government councils Joint Account Committee (JAC) by the Nasarawa state government towards ensuring that each council gets exactly what accrues to it from the federation account, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has sactioned the monthly publication of federal allocation to the 13 local governments in the state.
Governor Al-Makura had last week stated that the dissolution of the JAC was to ensure proper distribution and allocation of revenue accruals in accordance with the distribution of the Federal Allocation Committee (FAC).
Financial statement released by the Nasarawa state government indicated that the 13 local government areas of the state got a total of N1,279,442,957.88.
The highest net allocation of N139, 658, 588.34 went to Lafia local council which is also the state capital, while the least allocation of N78, 648, 756.76 went to Keffi local government.
LEADERSHIP checks, however, revealed that what is worrisome remains the fact that only three local government areas of Keffi, Awe and Keana can pay their workers salaries as a little above N2 billion is needed to settle monthly salaries of local government workers in the state.
‘ he said.He, however, explained that the joint account operated by local governments had become problematic, hence the decision to abolish the JAC.This, the governor stated, was to find a lasting solution to reoccurring delay and shortfall in the salaries of local government workers.Al-makura added that the decision would also clear the air that the state government was using local government funds for other purposes.
Al-Makura who lamented that there has been so much ignorance and speculations aimed at stigmatising the state government, stressed that “Nasarawa state has never operated any joint account where money of local government councils were used to do any other thing”.
He said that the independence of each local government with regards to allocation will prove a turning point as each local government will get exactly what is accrued to it directly from the Federation Account.
“This is in line with the constitution and the councils would account as to how the money was spent. Every local government will have to fend for itself. If a local government over employs, it will be left to carry its burden on its own,” he maintained.
“The kind of collaboration they were doing as a group will have to terminate from now,” he said