Aminu Bello Masari, the Katsina State Governor took N499,650,000 from local governments treasury to mobilise party supporters in welcoming President Muhammadu Buhari for All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign.
President Buhari and other party bigwigs are expected to be in Katsina to campaign for Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate from January 26 to 27.
Governor Masari’s approval is contained in a letter addressed to Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dated January 18, 2023.
According to the letter, the funds are expected to be withdrawn from the Local Government Joint Account and each of the 34 LGs will pocket over N14.6 million.
The letter read: “I am directed to refer to your letter No. S/MLGCA/GEN/259/C/IV of 17 January 2023 and to convey the approval of His Excellency, the Governor for the release of N14,695,588.00 to each of the 34 LGCs totalling N499,650,000.00 (Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from the available balance of the 34 LGCs in the Local Government Joint Account to enable the LGCs to cater for adequate and effective mobilisation of citizens to receive Mr President during an official visit to Katsina State from 26 to 27 January 2023.”
Buhari had on several occasions lamented that local governments had been exposed to unnecessary sufferings by governors, who he often accused of diverting the LGs’ allocations from the federation account.
Two months ago, Buhari openly accused the state governors of misappropriating funds meant for the LGs in their respective states when speaking at the Conference Hall of the State House, Abuja, at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
The president expressed concern over what he described as governors’ unfair treatment of the administration at the local government level.
