Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state says the people of the Pacesetters State will determine what the government will do with the local government funds, in view of the recent Supreme Court judgement that affirmed financial autonomy for Local Governments in the country.
The Supreme court, had in a landmark judgement last week, stopped the state governments from tampering with funds meant for the 774 local governments, based on a suit filed by the federal government.
Makinde has criticised the judgment despite the fact that the body of state governors in the country, the Nigerian Governors Forum, NFF welcome the apex court’s ruling.
Unlike what obtained in the past, Justice Emmanuel Agim who led other Supreme court justices to rule on the suit filed early this year by the Attorney General of the Federationa nd Minister of Justice, on behalf of the federal government ordered that allocations from the federation account be paid directly to ‘elected’ local government administrations.
The implications, according to analysts, is that state governors would no longer be able to ‘mismanage’ LGAs funds as being alleged.
But speaking during a stakeholders forum in Ibadan, the state’s capital on Monday, Governor Makinde said how the state government manages LG funds is its own problem, noting that “we can solve our own problems ”which the state has shown with the prudent management of council’s resources.
He expressed fears over the new development, where LGAs are allowed to manage their funds, because of a situation in the past where some heads of local councils mismanaged the funds in their care, leading to many of them owing workers salaries.
Makinde said, “I want us to discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns the financial autonomy of the local government councils.
“I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We all swore to uphold the constitution but the law is the law.
“If the law is in conflict, it behoves us to look for our home-grown solution that can ensure that we have transparency and operate with our people. This is because when two elephants are fighting, the grass will suffer.”
“Since the beginning of this administration, we have conducted two local government elections. When I was sworn in, I dissolved the local government.
“The Supreme Court just basically said to us that governors don’t have the right to dissolve the councils, but why did I dissolve them then?
“It was because elections were held into the LCDAs, and the same Supreme Court has now said that only 774 LGAs are in Nigeria. So, there is confusion in the land.”
“We were able to clear those salary arrears. We paid N18bn in pension and gratuities over these periods. We upgraded about 209 PHCs, equipped about 264, and completed 60 model schools.
“We constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms and fixed some inner roads, but there are still challenges that we have to address.
“We still have a backlog of gratuities and pensions. The local government is owing about N55bn in pension and gratuities,” the governor stated.
Governor Makinde also reiterated the importance of cooperation between different levels of government for the benefit of the citizens.
“Our people do not care if the road is fixed by the FG or the state government or the LG. They just want to see good roads,” he said.
“For us in Oyo State, we can solve our own problems, deal with our situation, and prioritize our people. Our pass mark is to discuss among ourselves and whatever we agree upon,” he stated.
Governor Makinde has been vehemently dragged by not a few Nigerians over his stand on the LGs autonomy.
The governor is among few state chief executives who insist that Nigeria is a federation of states and federal government, and have been trenchantly criticised for their positions by not a few Nigerians over their stand on the issue.
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