The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has described Thursday’s Supreme Court’s judgement granting financial autonomy to Local Governments as a relief from financial burden to State Governments.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, while speaking to journalists at the State House House on Friday.
The Chairman, who expressed this position on behalf of his colleagues described the judgment as a welcomed development. He, however, assured of compliance to the judgment by State Governments.
Flanked by the Governors of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, AbdulRazaq praised the Supreme Court judgment.
He stated that the ruling is a devolution of power that has relieved governors of the significant financial burden of bailing out Local Governments. The NGF Chairman maintained that this is an expense that many Nigerians are unaware of.
While acknowledging the need for compliance, the NGF Chairman revealed that State Attorney-Generals have applied for the enrollment order, which will be carefully studied.
He said, “We welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court. Compliance is a given and our Attorney-Generals have applied for the enrollment order, which we’ll study carefully.
“But by and large, Governors are happy with the devolution of power in respect to Local Government autonomy. It relieves the burden on Governors. Our people really don’t know how much States expend in bailing out Local Governments. And that’s the issue there.
“The forum will meet next Wednesday, to look at the issue wholly. And then come up with a resolution on that.
“Like I said, we haven’t seen the enrollment of the court order. And, so, we really don’t know what is in there,” he stated.
Answering questions on how the judgment relates to Kwara State, AbdulRahman said the judgment will not negatively affect the State. He pointed that Kwara State Government has not been tampering with Council funds.
“It’s not going to affect the State; we’ve never tampered with Local Government funds. So it’s going to continue.
“What the Local Governments have to do is to manage themselves, especially with the oncoming minimum wage. To manage their affairs and make sure salaries are paid. Traditional rulers get their 5% and those are the main issues,” he said.
source: The Nation
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