I Challenge State Govts, Traditional Rulers, and CSOs to Monitor Local Government Spending – EFCC Chairman Olukoyede

EFCC Chairman Olukoyede Tasks State Governments, Traditional Rulers, and CSOs to Monitor Local Government Spending

GOMBE – The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday urged state governments, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to take an active role in monitoring the spending of local government administrations within their domains. He emphasized that drastic measures must be taken to combat corruption at the local government level, where accountability structures are currently inadequate.

Addressing a mixed audience of activists, traditional rulers, and local government officials at the Gombe State Local Government Summit, Olukoyede criticized the widespread misuse of local government funds, calling the councils “automatic teller machines” for corrupt public officials. He lamented the situation where local government chairmen reside in state capitals and only visit their councils once a month to distribute federal allocations without proper oversight.

Olukoyede stressed that local governments should not merely exist in name but must be proactive in delivering good governance to the grassroots. He identified rampant corruption practices at the local level, including contract fraud, procurement malpractices, and embezzlement of public funds, and vowed that the EFCC would hold any officials accountable.

“The effects of corruption in our local governments are glaring,” Olukoyede said. “Roads remain dilapidated because resources meant for their construction are diverted, hospitals are ill-equipped, and councils are left to operate solely to pay salaries, with no accountability for the remaining funds.”

He further criticized the management of resources at the local level, saying that councils have become tools for avaricious officials who exploit the ignorance or indifference of rural populations for personal gain. Olukoyede called for a shift towards accountability and financial integrity at the local government level.

With the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments, Olukoyede urged local government chairmen to develop the capacity to manage resources effectively and implement developmental projects for the benefit of their constituents. He reminded them that, despite financial autonomy, they are not immune from scrutiny and must be held accountable for how public funds are applied.

“Even though you may have financial autonomy, you don’t have constitutional immunity. Your resources will be monitored not only by anti-corruption agencies but also by the state government,” Olukoyede stated. “I challenge local government chairmen to add value to themselves and develop the necessary skills to manage resources properly.”

The EFCC Chairman also called for a structure of accountability through the separation of powers within local government councils. He noted that local legislative units often fail to meet, further enabling abuses of power.

Olukoyede concluded by calling on community leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations to increase their involvement in overseeing local government activities, tracking budgets, and ensuring that any malfeasance is reported to anti-graft agencies for immediate intervention.