Edo PDP lawmakers seek probe of commissioner, LGs

The nine Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to probe the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the 18 LG chairmen.

The PDP legislators alleged that allocation from from the Federation Account was being “misapplied and misappropriated.”

The faction of the assembly, during its sitting, also urged the Attorney- General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation and the Director-General of the Revenue Allocation, Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to withhold revenue allocation to the 18 local governments in Edo State for failing to make available all receipts of revenue from the Federation Account from 2013 till date.

The lawmakers said the seizure should persist pending when the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James acceded to their request.

The lawmaker representing Etsako West 1, Abdulrazak Momoh, who raised the “consequential motion”, while quoting Sec. 129(a) of the 1999 Constitution as mended, said the commissioner had erred by not yielding to the request of the assembly, which it made on July 7, 2014.

Speaking on the matter, another member representing Igueben Constituency, Kingsley Ehigiamusor, said, “I am therefore of the opinion that there is no excuse whatsoever that can be advanced either by the Commission for Local Government Affairs or by the 18 local government chairmen why they have failed to provide that needed information.

“The suggestion that comes to mind is that they have a lot to hide.

“The reason why the local government seems to be struggling with the payment of salary, even when we are aware that there have been regular payments into the joint account with the local government is because of the monumental fraud that is on-going there.”

The nine PDP lawmakers urged the anti-graft agencies not to hesitate to wade into the matter.

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Edo PDP lawmakers seek probe of commissioner, LGs