Respected and seasoned facilitators at the recent held two-day seminar by LGNA for Council Treasurers in Lagos State allegedly said it’s Illegal for Council Chairmen to spend public funds running into several Millions without the Constitution of 12 the Executive cabinet after 4 Months in office.
Majority of the council Treasurers that participated in the seminar maintained that they have Executives in place that consists of The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Council Manager, Council Treasurer, legal officer.
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However, the Rev Olu. Badejo who handled the topic Council Treasurers as financial adviser to the Local Government Chairmen said the council Executive cabinet is not completed without the statutorily Secretary to the Local Government, SLG, 5 Supervisory Councilors and Special Adviser appointments among others.
A local government Chairman called me few days ago, told me they don’t have Executives in place, They have to spend money and how would they go about it, He said.
“The Executive is now in abeyance, You don’t have Executives, money must be spent, How do You spend it, you are committing an illegality, Badejo alleges.
Badejo noting further allegedly said that some Local Government Chairmen reportedly approved spending to the tune of N30MILLION Without Executive cabinet.
He said based on the current status obtainable virtually in all the local government, the only Advice Council Treasurers can give Local Chairmen is N200,000 approval due to the lacuna in place.
He admitted it was practice done in the time past. However, added that he expected the office of the auditor general to have acted and the ministry of Justice as a result of subsisting lacuna in place.
He urged the Council Treasurers to protect their professional careers and advised their Local government Chairmen on the need to have the statutorily 12 man Executive cabinet members in place for a valid approval.