Governor Abiola Ajimobi led administration in Oyo State has closed
about 168 bank accounts out of over 300 which his predecessor, Otunba
Adebayo Alao-Akala allegedly operated while in government.
After the closure of the excess bank accounts, he disclosed that his
government realised N7b which is being used for developmental projects.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Adelabu
Zaccheaus Wednesday in Ibadan, he alleged that operating the unnecessary
account had resulted in the loss of several millions of Naira.
The Commissioner stressed that the accounts were later consolidated into a few.
He said, “I met 168 accounts when we came on board and another 150 in
ministries. Now, how can such accounts be well coordinated? We had to
close those accounts leaving only one in each bank. We realized N7
billion from those accounts”.
Closing the excess bank accounts also blocked several loopholes
through which individuals and organizations may steal government money.
The commissioner used the opportunity to comment on the statement by
the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
that government should trim down its workforce by 50 percent saying the
advice, if heeded, would further plunge the country into serious
economic mess.
Instead, he suggested that the government should partner with the private sector to boost the economy.
He explained further that government needed to generate more revenue
and this necessitated its decision to partner with the private sector
and also embark on other creative ways of shoring up the internally
Generated Revenue.
“Government exists for the welfare of the people. That is why
people’s plight plays a central role in our decisions in Oyo State.
Rather than sack half of the work force, government should seek other
means of cutting cost and shore up its revenue to be able to deliver on
his electoral promises.
However I agree that over-bloated staff will stunt development but we
will continue to be creative in finding solutions to the problem of
funds in Oyo State.” He said.
Continuing, he noted “we are wealthy as a nation but the practice of
federalism in this country is lopsided. For instance, the allocation
sharing formula is lopsided.-PUNCH
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