The Chairman of Patigi Local government in Kwara State, Hon. Toheed Dauda Makuuti, has defended the state and local government joint account as a useful instrument for development.

Hon. Lata spoke in an exclusive chat with The Herald against the backdrop of criticism of the account by some stakeholders in the state.

According to the chairman, "The operation of a joint account by the state and local governments has been fruitful ever since it was initiated.

"The local government has been able to embark on some projects successfully with the aid of the joint account.

"Those in the local government cannot say joint account has not been fruitful. Joint account comes by an agreement with constitutional back-up which has given the state the power to have a joint account with the local government."

The above were words of the Chairman, Patigi Local government Area, Hon. Taoheed Explaining further, he said, it is based on an agreement whereby a local government proposing a project is obliged to contribute 60 per cent of the fund, while the state government provides the balance of 40 per cent.

According to him, this has ensured that many projects were completed that no council would have been able to deliver on its own.

"And if the state initiates a project, the state will pay 60 per cent of the cost of the project, while the local government will pay 40 per cent. That has been very encouraging,"he remarked.

Lata emphasised that joint account had enabled many projects to be done and that without it; the local government would not be able to do some projects.

"With the dwindling financial situation in the local governments, I don't see the way a local government can perform without the joint account."he said.

"The joint account is helping us to get little money to do the projects we are doing. If that is not ip, place, no local government will be able to do anything. In cases that are very urgent or emergency cases, you can still write and it will be approved." he added.

On who takes the glory for projects executed through the joint account. Lata. who is the Vice Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, said: "Nobody takes the glory when projects are done from the joint account because it is not our personal money but government money. The main thing is that the job is done and the society enjoys dividends of democracy.

"Why are we looking for glorification? This is a joint work and it is very helpful, providing what our people need, is the most important thing; when that is done, then that's alright."

The former lawmaker also explained that council chairmen are consulted before any amount is taken from the oint account. He then advocated crucial agreement Between the state and local governments to ensure adequate understanding for :he project.

Speaking on the recent-delay n the payment of local government staff salaries, he said it was due to dwindling allocation from the Federation Account, which he said could not pay half of the staff in some ocal governments. Hence, he said, councils have had to look :or means of augmenting their allocations.

Culled from The Herald