Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered the freezing of accounts belonging to the state and its local government areas. The directive, confirmed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Asiru Idris, was communicated through a statement released in the state capital, Lokoja.
The statement explicitly stated, “No imprest or any form of payment should be made to anyone from Government Account henceforth. Standing Orders and Investment Instructions are hereby cancelled forthwith. All Kogi State and Local Government Accounts are hereby FROZEN with effect from today, Thursday 22nd November 2003.”
The reasons behind the sudden freezing of the accounts were not explicitly provided in the statement, leaving the public and various stakeholders in the state curious about the motives behind this financial decision. This development comes as a significant decision affecting the financial operations of both the state and its local government areas.
Observers will be keenly watching for any subsequent statements or clarifications from the state government regarding the motivations and implications of this directive, as it has immediate repercussions on the financial activities and transactions within Kogi State.