By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have been urged to publish their investigative reports on the alleged diversion of local government funds in Ogun State.

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Lygel Youths & Leadership Initiative (LYLI), which made the call in Abuja on Monday, said it was concerned about the management of LG funds in the state, citing an alleged lack of openness in the award of contracts.

The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Lekan Oladapo, further decried what it termed the “strangulation of the third tier of government” in the country.

It said: “Without a robust and functioning local government administration, there is hardly any programme of the Federal Government that can work in any part of the country, Ogun State inclusive.

“We recall the 2023 petition by the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, who courageously affirmed that the Ogun State Government had consistently withheld federal allocations and Ecological Funds meant for the 20 local governments in the state.

“Despite the administration’s denials, the reality on the ground has indeed shown that the local governments have operated under a ‘zero allocation’ reality, where they are unable to perform basic functions like rural road grading or maintaining primary health centres without begging the state executive for ‘intervention funds.’

“This is a direct affront to the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local governments.

“It is also a direct assault on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reposition the grassroots for quality development.”

Besides, the CSO questioned what it described as the “closed-door” nature of public procurement in Ogun State.

It cited a case in April 2026 when civil society groups, like the Right Thinkers Global Initiative (Eagleping), were forced to invoke the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act just to get details on the N1.39 billion New Ogun State House of Assembly Complex project.

“Why must citizens go to court or use FOI requests to see the scope, contractor details, and funding structures of projects funded by their own taxes? The lack of an open, functional procurement portal remains a significant red flag for accountability.

“The ‘Building Our Future’ mantra cannot be built on a foundation of opacity and neglected grassroots.

“We call on the EFCC and the ICPC to make public their reports on the investigations into allegations of diverted local government funds and procurement irregularities,” the group added.