Huge scandal hits Zamfara: Group accuses top officials of diverting local government funds

• A civic group, the Zamfara Accountability and Development Coalition (ZADC), has accused apical officials successful Governor Dauda Lawal’s medication of diverting funds meant for section authorities development
• The radical claimed billions of naira person disappeared implicit the past six months, leaving Zamfara’s section councils incapable to supply basal services
• ZADC besides urged the EFCC to probe the alleged corruption and retrieve each misappropriated funds

Gusau, Zamfara state - A civic advocacy group, the Zamfara Accountability and Development Coalition (ZADC), has accused apical authorities officials successful Zamfara authorities of diverting funds meant for section authorities development, describing the alleged actions arsenic “economic sabotage” and a betrayal of nationalist trust.

In a connection released connected Sunday, May 18, and signed by its president, Salisu Bako Maradun, the conjugation alleged that elder officials successful the medication of Governor Dauda Lawal person formed a cabal that routinely hijacks section authorities allocations from the Federation Account.

Governor Dauda Lawal faces disapproval for alleged inaction implicit section authorities money mismanagement. Photo credit: Dauda Lawal
Source: Facebook

Top officials named successful alleged scheme

ZADC named the commissioner for section authorities and chieftaincy affairs, the commissioner for finance, the accountant-general, and the imperishable caput successful the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs arsenic the cardinal figures successful the alleged misconduct.

“These individuals person captured the fiscal architecture of Zamfara’s 14 section governments,” the radical said. “Their actions magnitude to economical sabotage and a betrayal of nationalist trust.”

The conjugation said the funds meant for improvement projects astatine the grassroots are routinely withheld astatine the authorities level, leaving section councils incapable to relation effectively.

Local councils reduced to ceremonial presumption - ZADC

ZADC further stated that "local governments successful Zamfara person go ceremonial offices".

The radical added:

“The existent enactment of looting is done successful Gusau. Month aft month, immense allocations arrive, but they vanish earlier they scope the grassroots.”

According to ZADC, the alleged diversion of funds has had a nonstop interaction connected the state’s deteriorating infrastructure and nationalist services.

“Health centres person nary medicines, schools are bare shells, and agrarian roads are decease traps. Yet the officials astatine the apical are surviving successful obscene luxury,” it said.

Governor Lawal accused of silence, enabling rot

The radical besides criticised Governor Lawal for allegedly turning a unsighted oculus to the mismanagement.

“Governor Lawal cannot proceed to look the different mode portion Zamfara’s commonwealth is stolen successful wide daylight. His nonaccomplishment to enactment has emboldened those bleeding the authorities dry,” the conjugation said.

ZADC described the state’s Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) arsenic “compromised and opaque”, claiming that section authorities chairmen are not provided with close figures oregon documentation during monthly disbursements.

The radical alleged that Zamfara authorities received billions of naira successful section authorities allocations implicit the past six months, but said determination was “zero reflection” of this successful immoderate assembly area.

“Communities successful Talata Mafara, Maru, Bukkuyum, and Tsafe person not seen immoderate authorities task successful implicit a year. The aforesaid tin beryllium said for Gummi, Kaura-Namoda, and Bakura,” the radical said. “This is not conscionable neglect. It is organised looting.”

EFCC asked to probe allegations

ZADC called connected Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to analyse the alleged misappropriation and prosecute those recovered culpable.

“We are calling connected the EFCC to intervene without delay. The commissioner for section government, commissioner for finance, accountant-general, and the imperishable caput indispensable beryllium arrested and charged with corruption,” it said.

The radical demanded that each diverted funds beryllium recovered and utilized to execute community-based projects.

“We privation each kobo accounted for. Zamfara belongs to its people, not a fewer godfathers and greedy bureaucrats. This impunity indispensable halt now,” the connection said.

Zamfara civic radical calls for EFCC involution implicit missing assembly allocations. Photo credit: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP
Source: Getty Images

LG autonomy: FG mentions those who whitethorn beryllium jailed

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the federal government warned elected officials who collude with governors to divert allocations meant for Nigeria's 774 section authorities areas.

The attorney-general of the federation and curate of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the national authorities volition initiate transgression actions against specified officials.

He said the determination is successful enactment with the Supreme Court's judgement that granted fiscal autonomy to section governments.

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Source: Legit.ng