The Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed the support of state governors for the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding local government autonomy.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed the support of state governors for the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding local government autonomy.
According to AbdulRazaq, the governor’s attorney-generals have requested the enrollment order, which will be thoroughly reviewed by them.
“By and large, the Governors are happy with the devolution of power concerning local government autonomy. It relieves the Governors of some burdens. People don’t know how much states expend in bailing out local governments. It’s not going to affect the state; we’ve not tampered with local government funds.
“What the local governments have to do is to manage themselves, especially with the upcoming minimum wage. They have to manage their affairs and make sure salaries are paid and traditional rulers get their five per cent. Those are the main issues.
“The Forum will meet next Wednesday to look at the issues wholly and then come up with resolutions.
“As you are aware, the tripartite committee (on the minimum wage) has met and submitted its report. The decision on the figure is the prerogative of the President, which he would also transmit to the National Assembly for a robust debate before it’s adopted, the governor declared.”
He noted that the state government has not been tampering with council funds.
“It’s not going to affect the state. We have never tampered with local government funds. So it is going to continue,” he said.
“What the local governments have to do is manage themselves, especially with the coming minimum wage, to manage their affairs and make sure salaries are paid, traditional rulers get their five percent and those are the main issues.
It would be recalled that In May, the Federal Government filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the governors of the 36 states, seeking full autonomy for the country’s 774 local governments.
In the suit filed by Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, the federal government also requested the Supreme Court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the federation account to local governments under the constitution.
On July 11, the supreme court ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation accounts.