The immediate past chairman of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State Peter Vwang Dung has explained why development funds accruing to the 17 local government areas of the state were not disbursed throughout the 20 months of the caretaker committee regime.

Speaking with newsmen, he said the money was saved so that elected chairmen would have funds to carry out developmental projects when they assume office.

Governor Jonah Jang appointed caretaker chairmen to run the local councils in January 2012 and they were in office till last week when the governor replaced them with interim administrators in preparation for council elections scheduled for December 7.

The immediate past chairman of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State Peter Vwang Dung has explained why development funds accruing to the 17 local government areas of the state were not disbursed throughout the 20 months of the caretaker committee regime.

Speaking with newsmen, he said the money was saved so that elected chairmen would have funds to carry out developmental projects when they assume office.

Governor Jonah Jang appointed caretaker chairmen to run the local councils in January 2012 and they were in office till last week when the governor replaced them with interim administrators in preparation for council elections scheduled for December 7.

“As transition chairmen, some came with different motives. Had it been that money was given out such chairmen would not have done anything good with it. Our money for development is in the bank and the Plateau State government will release it when elected council chairmen assume office,” he said.

He added that the idea to keep the funds in the bank was not forced on them by Governor Jang.

“It was our agreement, the 17 of us in the transition councils said that while utilising funds for recurrent expenditure, we should keep development funds till elected chairmen come in,” he added.

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Why local government funds were not disbursed for over 20 months