Oshiomhole have never deducted council funds– Oredo LG boss

The Chairman of Oredo Local Government in Edo State, Osaro Obazee has exonerated the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of allegedly siphoning large percent of Local Government fund from the monthly federal allocation.

The Oredo Local Government boss said the same way the Comrade Governor made electioneering promises to the people of Edo State, they as Local Government Chairmen also made campaign promises which they must fulfill.

Mr. Obazee made the remark after the election of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON held in the Oredo Local Government Secretariat, Benin City.

The Local Government boss admitted that the councils in the state are actually broke, but insisted that it was not caused by the state government as alleged, but because of the short-fall in the price of crude oil at the International Market. “We are not in a running battle with any Governor. Local Government Chairmen in Edo State have enjoyed much independence, those that know me can testify that I do not bend words. There have not been deductions in fairness, I repeat, whether there is autonomy of local government or not, it has no bearing on me because my money gets to me as it comes from Abuja’’.

When asked whether his council was broke, he stated, “we are absolutely broke, that is why I am trying to improve my internally generated revenue which people have considered a political patronage to increase the financial status of the council. About three weeks ago, we embarked in on-the-spot verification exercise of teachers and discovered that some teachers are not suppose to be here, some have been retired, that is how we expect to raise the financial status of the council.  Most of the councils are unable to pay wage bills of their workers. The Comrade Governor is doing much to ameliorate these problems”.

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