The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has stated that the Supreme Court verdict on local government financial autonomy is a relief for governors.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja on Friday, in the presence of his Bauchi and Imo State counterparts, Bala Mohammed and Hope Uzodimma respectively, AbdulRazaq expressed the governors’ positive reception of the ruling.
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“We welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court. Compliance is a given and our attorney generals have applied for the enrolment order which we’ll study carefully. But by and large, governors are happy with the devolution of power concerning local government autonomy,” AbdulRazaq said.
He added that the ruling alleviates the financial burden on governors who have often had to bail out local governments. “Our people don’t know how much states expend in bailing out local governments, and that’s the issue there.”
Governor AbdulRazaq clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision would not negatively impact the states.
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He emphasized that governors have never tampered with local government funds and that the autonomy granted to local governments would enable the third tier of government to better manage their affairs.
The NGF will meet next Wednesday to form a resolution on the matter.
In addition to addressing the Supreme Court verdict, AbdulRazaq commented on President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with labour leaders regarding the new minimum wage.
“As you’re aware the tripartite committee has met and submitted its report. Yes, a movement of figures is the prerogative of the president which he will also transmit to the National Assembly for robust debate before it’s adopted,” he said.
The governor’s comments followed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that funds meant for local government councils should be directly paid to them, declaring it illegal for state governments to hold council funds.
This landmark judgment has concluded a longstanding battle for local government financial autonomy and has received widespread commendations from various stakeholders, including President Tinubu, governors, political leaders, and lawmakers.
