Autonomy: ‘EFCC will come after you, be watchful – ALGON President, Mua’zu, Ogodo-Ali tell LG chairmen

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

The national president of the association of local governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Maifata Aminu Mua’zu, together with the ALGON chairman Ebonyi State chapter, Moses Ogodo-Ali Nomeh have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governor Francis Nwifuru for granting financial autonomy to local government areas as stipulated by the supreme Court of Nigeria.

The duo, however warned the new council chairmen in the thirteen local government areas of Ebonyi State to be watchful and be mindful that the economic and financial crime commission, EFCC, will come after them, if they misuse the financial autonomy granted to them by the supreme Court.

The national president of ALGON, Mua’zu and Ogodo-Ali made this known while speaking with newsmen shortly after a program marking the inauguration of council chairmen in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State.

They said that the new council chairmen are privileged to witness the financial autonomy being granted to the local governments at this point in time, and as much, will ensure that there is massive development at the grassroots and communities in the state.

In their separate reactions, Mua’zu who was represented by the ALGON chairman of Kaduna state, Shuaibu Bawa Jaja said: “I charge the newly sworn-in local government chairmen, our colleagues in Ebonyi state to take charge of their constitutional responsibilities to manage the affairs of the local government, to manage the resources, to ensure the respect to the fundamental rule of law, to ensure the development of infrastructure, to ensure the welfare and well-being of the electorates who brought them into power.

“The financial autonomy is a welcome development in our body politics and we want to thank the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting the autonomy to the local governments, which we hope,  it will serve in advancing the administrative and financial autonomy of the local governments, which we hope, very soon a lot of projects, a lot of welfare packages will come to the people at the grassroots” he stated.

Responding, the ALGON chairman, Ebonyi State chapter, Ogodo-Ali said: “I received the news of the financial autonomy to the local governments with mixed feelings. This is because, to whom much is giving, to whom much is expected. It is my belief that the council chairmen are capable of handling the financial autonomy given to them by the supreme Court. 

“Financial autonomy has to go with caution. Caution in the sense that, we are under the rule of the law. When you are under the rule of law, you have to count on what you are doing. As you are getting autonomy, the EFCC will be watching you, the electorate is watching you and the governors will equally be watching you and it will be incumbent on you to mind your steps.

“We give thanks to God, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to our governor, Francis Nwifuru” he stated.