The Igala Youth Council (IYC), in collaboration with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kogi State, has petitioned the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio to as a matter of urgency, probe an alleged massive and systematic diversion of local government funds under the Lokoja Voucher Scheme.
While leading a peaceful protest at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the President of the Igala Youth Council (IYC), Hon. Collins Onogu, appealed to the Senate to ensure that public funds were used for the benefit of citizens and not diverted into private hands.
In the petition submitted on Monday, the CSOs alleged that billions of naira allocated for grassroots development across the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State has been misappropriated, leaving communities impoverished and local government workers underpaid.
According to the groups, a review of three LGAs, Dekina, Yagba East, and Adavi, shows that over 80 percent of their annual and 2025 allocations remain unaccounted for, despite constitutional provisions that guarantee financial autonomy for local governments.
The CSOs therefore called for an independent audit and investigations by the National Assembly, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as well as unrestricted access to funds for local government chairmen.
The petition concludes with a 21-day ultimatum to the Kogi State Government to comply with constitutional provisions on local government financial autonomy as failure to take corrective action, will trigger statewide peaceful protests, legal battles, and continuous civic advocacy.
