The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, says the decision of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy has created confusion in the land.
Governor Makinde at an emergency consultative stakeholders meeting held on Monday, therefore, set up technical and legal committees to review the Supreme Court judgement.
Daily Trust reported that the apex court had ordered that the monthly allocation from the federation account be paid directly intp the local government’s coffers without interference from state governments, a decision which the governor had earlier labelled as FG’s distractive tactics.
Present at the consultative stakeholders meeting are members of Oyo State chapter, Association of Local Government Administration (ALGON), Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Abiodun Aikomo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Otunba Ademola Ojo, and Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
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Others in attendance are representatives of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).
Makinde at the meeting held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office insisted that the problem confronting Nigeria was not how to share money but how to become more productive and create economic prosperity.
Makinde said, “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 on us to look for our own 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.
“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 basically now said that only 774 LGAs in Nigeria. So, there is confusion in the land, but when you have confusion, what it means is that the structure is shaking and we have to remove much of those confusions as much as possible.
“So, we will be outlining the major challenges we have at the local government areas, so that we can develop our own solution. On the issue of LG elections in Oyo State, we don’t have caretaker committees at the local level. We planned the elections in a way that not a single day was given out. We have a responsible government in Oyo State, we don’t need the federal government to tell us what to do. We know what is good and we know what is good for our people.”
Similarly, the Attorney General of Oyo State and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Abiodun Aikomo and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Otunba Ademola Ojo during a press briefing held at the Press Conference Room of the Governor’s Office told newsmen that the two newly set up committees had been tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the specifics of the Supreme Court ruling and proposing a detailed implementation plan that adheres to both constitutional requirements and practical considerations in the best interest of the people.
Barrister Aikomo added that the mandate of the committees includes review and recommendation for new frameworks for implementation of the financial autonomy,
Barrister Aikomo disclosed that the committees had been given four to six weeks to conclude review of the ruling and come up with recommendations.
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