Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has directed the freezing of all the State and Local Government Accounts with immediate effect.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris said no imprest or any form of payment should be made to anyone from Government Account henceforth.
According to the statement, all “Standing Orders and Investment Instructions are hereby Cancelled forthwith”.
However,our correspondent gathered that the decision might be connected with the governor’s misgivings about the performances of some members of his cabinet.
Recall that governor Bello had last Saturday gave some members of his cabinet including local government Chairman a dress down and questioned their loyalty.
According to him, despite being mobilised to provide transportation and other logistics for the electorates during the election,you have all failed to deliver while the mobilisation funds ended in private pockets”
The governor went ahead to issue a questionnaire to all the 21 local government Chairmen which they were asked to submit last Tuesday.
The latest development might be a way of preventing last minute looting if the treasury before the inauguration of the incoming Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo on 27th January 2024