In a surprising move, the Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the freezing of the accounts belonging to the 18 local government areas and 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) within the state.
The directive, conveyed through a letter to the local councils, mandates the suspension of all spending and expenditure from the local government accounts.
According to the letter addressed to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs), the Acting Governor emphasized a strict adherence to the directive, stating, “No signing of cheques, no change of signatories, no withdrawal of any sort until further directive.”
Expressing their concerns over the sudden financial restrictions, one of the caretaker chairmen revealed to Vanguard in confidence, “Yes, he has blocked the accounts of the local governments. We don’t know why he’s doing that now.”
The move has raised questions among local officials, leaving them puzzled about the motives behind the decision.
Furthermore, the Acting Governor has delegated the responsibility of preparing and signing his official engagements to his Deputy Chief of Staff, Omojuwa Olusegun.
A letter signed by Omojuwa and addressed to members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries explained the temporary handover of duties.
The letter stated, “The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed me to inform all members of the State Executive Council and Top Government Functionaries that the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor would be responsible for the preparation and signing of his official engagements for the time being.”
Additionally, the Chief of Protocol is expected to assume these responsibilities once the Governor resumes from his medical vacation.
The combination of freezing local government accounts and redistributing official duties has created a sense of uncertainty among local officials and the wider public, prompting speculation about the reasons behind these decisions.
As the situation unfolds, residents and stakeholders await further directives from the Acting Governor’s office to gain clarity on the motivations behind these recent administrative actions.
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