In response to the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming financial autonomy for Local Government Administration in Nigeria, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has bared his mind, lamenting that the ruling of the Apex Court has created a Lacuna between the decision and the Constitution of the Federal Republic.
Consequently, Governor Makinde at an emergency consultative stakeholders meeting held on Monday has set up two committees; Technical and Legal Committees to review the Supreme Court judgement.
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.
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 on Monday, July 15 disclosed that the stakeholders engagement aimed to discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns financial autonomy for the local government Councils.
While lamenting the challenges the Supreme Court judgement portends for state government, Makinde insisted that the problem confronting the nation was not how to share money but how to become more productive and create economic prosperity, stressing that before his administration came on board, leave bonuses were last paid in 2017.
He added that his administration paid that of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 while highlighting some of the efforts to deliver good governance at the grassroots, the governor added that Primary health care facilities, inner roads among others were all in bad shape and that he has continuously worked collaboratively with the LGs to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“Let me thank you all for joining this important consultative meeting. I want us to discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns 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 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.
“Let me also recall that since the beginning of this administration, we have conducted two local government elections and I say to say ‘did I not tell you’? 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 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. And the the challenges of addressed, will ensure that we have seamless implementation of the process that can allow Oyo State to continue to …
“So, 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.
“We were able to clear those salary arrears. We paid N18bn in pension and gratuities over these period. We upgraded about 209 PHCs, equipped about 264, completed 60 model schools. We constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms and fixed some Omer roads but there are still challenges that we have to address. We still have backlog of gratuities and pension.
“The local government is owing about N55bn in pension and gratuities. We are developing infrastructure that would push the economy and raise the living standard of their people and push their economy towards sustainable goals. But for us, at that time, our priority was not to deploy resources. What I am hearing right now is that our problem is not also money but how to share it. But I insist that our problem is not how to share money but how how to bake a bigger cake and bring our people out of hunger and poverty and stop the anger in the land.
“Our people do not care of the road is fixed by the FG or the state government or the LG. They just want to see good roads. An example is the Oyo-Iseyin road through Fasola, which is a Federal Government road but the state government fixed it and I have the letter for the FG when I wrote it for approval. It is a critical road to Oyo State economy.
“I believe it is our problem irrespective of what they are doing at the federal level. We know what is important to the lives of our own people here in Oyo State. I learnt FAAC is tomorrow (Tuesday) and all of you can come. We will delay the implementation for the next ninety days, which is three FAACs from now. They will still pay the money into JAC account.
“You make the laws, you break it. So, the law is at your own… That is not how to run a country. If you make the law, let us all obey the law. For us in Oyo State, we can solve our own problem, deal with our situation and prioritize our people. Our pass mark is to discuss among ourselves and whatever we agree upon.
“I am not saying things should not be transparent at the local government level but it is a distraction to say this is the magic bullet that will wash away our problems. NULGE is here, NUP, NUT and others are here. So, let us sit down and discuss and fashion out our own way out of this issue.” Governor Makinde said.
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 have 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 also added that the mandate of the committees includes review and recommendation for new frameworks for implementation of the financial autonomy, and identifying potential challenges and solutions.
Recall that the Supreme Court ruling, which mandates direct operation and administration of Local Government funds by the third tier of government without interference from state governors has sparked nationwide debates.
Barrister Aikomo, who disclosed that the committees have been given between four to six weeks to conclude review of the ruling and come up with recommendations however, noted that as of press time, the state has yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court Judgement.
While noting that the Supreme Court judgement has created a Lacuna, he said legal experts have been asked to look at it stressing that governor Makinde, being a proactive leader, has decided to call the emergency consultative stakeholders meeting to fashion out a lasting solution in the best interest of the people of the state.
