The rumor emanating from some caretaker chairmen is disturbing and I am finding it difficult to look the other way round this time around.
Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari approved Financial Autonomy for local governments and I said what we need is autonomous local government that will guarantee, as a must, election into the council and probably enjoying fixed tenure, then the financial autonomy will be effective.
Today, I have it on my very table a serious allegation that Kogi state government has mandated 21 local government caretakers council to sign three billion Naira compulsory loan from Zenith Bank and UBA Bank. They will only sign and none of them will know the location or dare touch the cash in question. You must not ask what the loan is for, but you must sign and agree with the loan term and repayment method as a caretaker chairman.
This action will enable the Banks in question have direct access to the local government account and deduct at source in the name of loan repayment. This is a time bomb as those signing this fraud in the name of loan will be asked one day to come and account for it. Remember Bello’s government is going and the people of Kogi state are calling for their own government that will be accountable to them.
Dear Administrator, is this risk worth it? You will go to jail over your own stupidity, aiding crime against the people of Kogi state in the name of loyalty.
Government is not a joke and remember the rate of awareness now is so high, your freedom is necessary and the NFIU will monitor the whereabouts of those loans. Just my little advise.
– Austin Usman Okai
