The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has directed the local government chairmen in the state to get approval for N2million from the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Chief Bayo Lawal before embarking on such project.
He also said any of the chairmen who intended to execute a project worth N10million should get formal approval from him before starting the project
Westerndailiynews gathered that this was contained in administrative procedure for all local government councils and local council development areas of of the state.
“Chairmen shall have approved spending limit of N500,000 on recurrent expenditure at a time. All contract exceeding N2million shall be considered by the Hon. Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters.
“Expenditure exceeding N10millon are to be referred to the executive governor through the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs. Chairmen are authorized to draw a maximum of N1million as security votes.”
The procedure was said to be the one delaying the state elected Local Government Chairmen from executing some of their major projects in their council areas.
Westerndailynews observed that the procedure was noticed no adjustment was made with the procedures used for the last caretaker chairmen under the current administration.
According to the guidelines, a local government chairman is curtailed with a spending limit of Five Hundred Thousand Naira ( # 500.000.00 ) on recurrent expenditure at a time.
In the guideline, all the executive chairmen were also directed to the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Chief Bayo Lawal for considerations and approval of all contracts exceeding two million naira (N2, 000, 000. 00 ).
Western Daily correspondent also gathered that, governor Seyi Makinde signified his personal interest in any of the local government expenditure exceeding Ten Million Naira ( N10, 000, 000. 00 ).
Makinde in the approved spending guideline for councils ordered the chairmen to refer spending of N10,000,000.00 to him through the Chief Bayo Lawal, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters for a decision.
In addition, the chairmen had gotten the go ahead to draw a maximum of One Million Naira ( N1, 000,000 ) as security vote monthly while also the amount can be exceeded only if governor Makinde permitted.
The procedure said security vote can only be spent generally towards enhancing security of the local government.
The local government chairmen were also mandated to render quarterly returns of the actual income and expenditure of the local government to the state government through the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Chief Bayo Lawal.