Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, says Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has not frozen Local Government council accounts.
On Wednesday, the Ondo House of Assembly declared Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor — after months of political uncertainty in the state.
The Assembly took the decision after receiving a medical leave notification from the ailing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Media reports, however, suggested that Aiyedatiwa had ordered that the LG accounts be frozen.
The state Information Commissioner in a statement on Sunday said, “At no time has the Acting Governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or order any closure.
“This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good people of Ondo State, particularly officials of local governments to disregard the rumour.
“Necessary complimentary personnel/civil servants have been deployed to the LCDA(s) and they have been advised to exercise due diligence and processes in their operations by the government.
“The State Government is committed to proper functioning of the new thirty-three LCDA(s) and the existing 18 Local Government Areas in the state as a way of enhancing development at the grassroots.
“The government is aware of a suit filed by the opposition party before the State High Court, and we are hopeful that contending issues before the court will be decided shortly.
“While a date has been fixed for the conduct of local government election in the state, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has started working on delineation of a minimum of five councillorship electoral wards in each of the LCDA(s).
“Delineation of these electoral Wards by ODIEC is part of the transition guidelines provided for in the Government White Paper for transiting from 18 LGA(s) to 51 LGA(s)/LCDA(s) in the state. Government is committed to a smooth transition that will usher a democratic Elected Local Government Area in Ondo state.”
The Information Commissioner also denied claims that the Chief of Protocol to Akeredolu, Bola Alabi,
had been suspended.
He said, “Also, our attention has been drawn to the social media misrepresentation of our Circular letter No. FAD/DG.156/98 of 14th December 2023 in respect of the preparation of the acting governor’s engagement, which has been mischievously reported to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The chief of protocol to Mr governor has not been placed on suspension by the Ag. Governor nor by any person.
“It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of Mr Governor’s engagements is less than two percent of the CoP’s responsibilities.
“Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr. Bola Alabi is busy with Mr. Governor.”
The commissioner added that the acting governor is “prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective running of the administration”.