The Acting Governor of Ondo, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has frozen the accounts of all 18 local government areas and 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) within the State.
The directive, conveyed through a letter to local councils, explicitly instructs a suspension of all spending and expenditure from the local government accounts.
The letter further prohibits the signing of cheques, changes in signatories, and any form of withdrawal until further notice.
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The acting governor reportedly emphasised to the newly created LCDAs that they should refrain from opening new accounts, adding an extra layer of complexity to the financial freeze.
The move has sparked concern among local officials, with one caretaker chairman expressing worry about the unexpected action.
“Yes, he has blocked the accounts of the local governments. We don’t know why he’s doing that now,” the official told Vanguard.
In a related development, the acting governor has designated his Deputy Chief of Staff, Omojuwa Olusegun, to handle the preparation and signing of his official engagements temporarily.
A letter signed by Omojuwa and addressed to members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries conveyed the directive.
The letter explained that Omojuwa would manage these responsibilities until the governor resumes from his ongoing medical vacation.
The Chief of Protocol is expected to assume the role once the governor returns to office.