The adviser to the governor of Benue on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Denis Akura, has described as misleading, allegations made by the Global Integrity Crusade Network”(GICN) that ₦20 billion has been embezzled in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
A statement dated 28th February, 2023, issued by Mr Dennis Akura, the special adviser to the governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in reaction to the allegation noted that as at June 2023 to 2nd October, 2023, Dr. Akura was not at the helm of affairs at the bureau and making reference to him within the period exposed GICN’s mischievous intention for the petition.
The statement said it was on record that on the assumption of duty at the bureau, Dr. Akura made it clear to all staff at the bureau that he was directed by his boss to strictly adhere to the workable administrative framework designed to restructure, revamp cum return the lost glory at the local government administration in Benue state.
The statemenmt reads: “It is unfortunate that GICN completely exposed itself once more of the mischievous or stark ignorance or both on the running and management of the bureau.
“In Benue state, the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs no longer controls the federal allocation or any funds of the local government areas.
“A quasi financial autonomy has been granted to the local government where the aggregated federal allocation of the local government goes directly to each and every local government area’s accounts.
“The Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as mandated by Governor Alia only supervised, monitor and coordinate the affairs of the 23 local government areas through her Directorate of Monitoring and Inspection.
“Moreover, for transparency, the designated administrative framework has also directed all the local government area caretaker committee chairmen to as a must be crediting their IGR into the local government area accounts before transferring into the expenditures account to spend on the local government policies, programmes and projects.”
