The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen who misuse funds from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), stating they could face imprisonment.
This announcement was made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), during the 17th-anniversary annual lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
Fagbemi emphasized that no LGA chairman has immunity from prosecution and that any misappropriation of FAAC funds, which are designated for local development, will result in jail time. He remarked, “The governors have immunity, but local government council chairmen or councillors do not. They must decide whether to handle local government funds responsibly or risk imprisonment.”
He further stated, “If they want to misuse these funds and end up in jail, that is their choice. Alternatively, they can use the funds for development projects such as road upgrades and make a positive impact. They don’t all have to come to Abuja.”
Fagbemi highlighted the importance of local governance in enhancing national security, noting, “By focusing on local government, we can reduce the level of insecurity in Nigeria. Security agents perform optimally with information from the grassroots.”
Details to follow…
