Group tasks Aiyedatiwa on accountability, grassroots development

Abuja, Sept.29, 2025(NAN) The Ondo Redemption Front, a frontline civic organisation committed to good governance  has tasked Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo on the need for accountability and grassroots development.

The Chairman of the Front,Ayodeji Ologun, made the call at news conference after the September Edition meeting of the body held on Monday in Abuja.

Ologun said that as a group of concerned lawyers, they had earlier raised serious concerns regarding the state of healthcare, governance, infrastructure and financial accountability in Ondo State.

He called for total autonomy of local government administration to enhance grassroots development.

This, he said was to compliment the Federal Government’s desire in ensuring that effective governance gets to the grassroots.

“We ought to have had this press conference in Akure, but our deep concern is to draw the attention of the Federal Government on the Local Government funds accruing to council areas in Ondo State.

“You will recall that the Attorney-General of Federation sometimes ago approached the Supreme Court in order to give life to our Local Governments through financial autonomy.

“The reliefs sought by the Federal Government for our Local Government were granted.

“The federal government assured Nigerians and by extension Ondo State people that our local governments will have financial independence, that is to say that they will be accessing their funds directly from federation account for effective local government administration.”

Ologun, however, expressed concern that the judgment was yet to have its effect in the state hence the reason the Ondo State Local Governments have been lacking in some major development.

“We hereby call on the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation to revisit the implementation of the Supreme Judgment on the Local Government autonomy,”he appealed.

The Chairman added that the healthcare sector also needed a boast in terms of equipment among others.

He said that this was because the general hospitals in the area remained in decay, poorly staffed and under-equipped.

He explained that pregnant women still faced the same old nightmares of poor maternal care, while primary health centres across the state struggle with shortages of drugs and basic supplies including power supply.

Ologun said that true governance demanded listening, planning, and acting decisively.

He said that the group was worried with the implementation of some programmes which have little benefit to the people instead of strengthening community participation and resolving long-standing conflicts through dialogue.

He said that by December, two fiscal year (2024 and 2025 budget) would have been implemented by Aiyedatiwa.

He explained that with the  way the Federal Government  increased allocations to the states, there were indications that huge amount of money must have accrued to local governments in the state.

He ,therefore, called on the state government to explain to the people of the state how the state resources were being utilised.

He called for the direct release of local government funds to all the local government in Ondo state as released by the federal government through FAAC.

He also urged the state government to release audited accounts of all bond proceeds and state finances.

Ologun added that that the front wants an end to political distractions and focus on service delivery.

He stressed the need for the House of Assembly to be allowed to exercise its oversight duty freely.

Also speaking, Mr Mogbojuri Kayode,Co-Chairman of the Ondo Redemption Front,said that governance should not be done in secrecy because sovereignty belonged to the people.

“It is the right of the people for the government to disclose the information on how it is managing the affairs of the people, “he said.

Mr Adedotun Ajulo,the Secretary ,said that the group as  civil society group and natives of the state has civic duty to know how things are done in the state.

Ajulo, therefore, said it behooves on the state government o step forward to address the concerns of the people.(NAN)