The Igala Youth Council Worldwide, in collaboration with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has called for an urgent investigation into the alleged diversion of local government funds under the current administration in Kogi State.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the President General of the Igala Youth Council (IYC), Hon. Collins Onogu, said findings from the coalition show massive discrepancies between federal allocations and actual spending in Dekina, Yagba East, and Adavi Local Government Areas.
Hon. Onogu, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, argued that the continuous mismanagement of the allocation had deprived communities of development, workers of their wages, and local governments of their constitutional autonomy.
According to the CSOs, over 75% of LGA funds in 2024 and 2025 remain unaccounted for, despite constitutional provisions that guarantee full financial autonomy for local governments.
In Dekina LGA alone, the IYC revealed that, “2024 allocation was ₦5.3 billion with only ₦1.14 billion spent on salaries, leaving 78.52% unaccounted for. In 2025, allocations from Jan to Aug is ₦4.83 billion salary paid is ₦760 million (15.75%), leaving 84.29% unaccounted for.”
According to Hon Onogu, Yagba East LGA showed a similar pattern, “2024 Allocation was ₦4.43 billion, salaries paid was ₦1.02 billion (23.01%), while 76.99% was unaccounted for. In 2025, from Jan to Aug, allocation was ₦3.87 billion, salary paid was ₦680 million (17.55%) and 82.45% was left unaccounted for.”
He further said the trend continued in Adavi LGA, where “2024 Allocation was ₦4.57 billion, salary paid was ₦1.08 billion (23.60%) and 76.40% was unaccounted for. In 2025, Jan to Aug, allocation was ₦4.17 billion, salary paid was ₦720 million (17.26%) and 82.74% was left unaccounted for,” Onoja lamented.
According to Onoja, “these figures show a “systematic diversion of funds” and a gross violation of the constitutional guarantee of full local government financial autonomy.
The coalition among other things, therefore demanded for an independent audit of all LGA allocations from 2024 to date, investigations by the National Assembly, EFCC, and ICPC, full access to statutory funds by local government chairmen, and public explanations for all unaccounted percentages
The CSOs also issued a 21-day ultimatum for compliance, warning that failure by the state government would lead to peaceful protests, legal action, and sustained civic advocacy.
Onoja further affirmed the commitment of the IYC and its partners to fight corruption and protect the future of Kogi communities.
“The future of Kogi State belongs to the people, not to a few individuals who treat public office as a private enterprise. We demand justice, accountability, and dignity for our people,” he concluded.
