The Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi said progressive governance at the Local Government level is essential to stimulating improved growth and development in the country.

          Dr. Akinlesi brought this to the fore at the July 2023 edition of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting, held at Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

          The Permanent Secretary pointed out that the grassroots which constitute a larger percentage of the population deserved a better standard of living, saying the delivery of more dividends of democracy to the Local Government Areas would spur the people to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

           He urged the Chairmen of the 20 Local Governments not to relent on their oars, but continue to uphold good governance by being prudent, transparent in their dealings and be agents of progress at their various councils, to further complement the State government’s efforts on its ‘’Building our Future Together’’ agenda and ‘ISEYA’ mantra.

          Speaking, the Accountant-General/State Treasury, Mr. Babatunde Aregbesola, revealed that for July 2023, the 20 LGs in the State received a sum of N5,626,343,231.09 from Statutory Allocation Revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Difference, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) and Exchange Rate Differential.

          Mr. Aregbesola stated that a total of N4,497,940,852.41 would be used to pay the first-line charges, which include, Primary School Teachers’ Salaries, Local Government Staff Salaries & Allowances, Traditional Councils, Pensions, among others.