The 20 Local Government in Ogun State has received a share of the sum of N3,906,204,617.07, which include shares of Statutory Allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange gain, and non-oil from the Federal Allocation for October 2022.

This was disclosed at the November 2022 edition of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting held at the Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Speaking, the Commissioner for Finance and the Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo represented by the Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Mr. Babatunde Aregbesola, said the total sum of N4,307,029,570.04 was required to pay the first Line charges, which include: primary school teachers’ salary, local government staffs’ salary, pensions, traditional council, statutory payment to local government commission and other charges.

He added that the state government would have to argument additional N400,824,952 to balance up the first line charges for the month.

He noted that the sum of N314,991,562.96, which covers PAYE, and a five percent bond on pension would still be pending until the councils’ finance improve.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat expressed optimism that as things improve in the country, the local government would not be left out.

He added that the Dapo Abiodun’s administration would not relent in its efforts at having buoyant councils that are strong enough at giving their best to the people at the grassroots.

Permanent Secretary, of Local Government,t and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kolawole Fagbohun in his remarks, said the ministry would not stop in its function following all rules guiding financial transactions of the local government areas in the state.

Chairman, Retired Local Government Staff Pension, Mr. Ademoye B. appreciated the Governor for the release of N600m for payment of gratuity and pension for both State and Local Government Pensioner and the release of another N1.5 billion for payment of 5 months deductions.

Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal,has affirmed Bashir Machina as the authentic All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

President, Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, who presided over a 3-man panel, gave the affirmation in an appeal by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu, which had on September 28, 2022, declared

Machina as winner of the primary election organised by the APC in May 2022, while Lawan opted to contest the presidential primary election organised by the APC in June.
Lawan lost the APC presidential ticket to former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu.
However, Machina was asked to step down for Lawan but he maintained that he would not withdraw for the Senate President.

The APC submitted the Senate President’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Displeased, Machina headed to court to seek redress praying the court to declare him as the validly elected senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election.

Justice Aminu had nullified the parallel primary election that produced Lawan on June 9, 2022.

The trial judge ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary held in May.