PDP faults ruling on LG autonomy, alleges fresh bureaucracy
12 August 2024 |
4:30 am
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said without prejudice to the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, the ruling is not sacrosanct as state governments cannot completely hands off the affairs of local councils in the 774 local government areas in the country. At a press conference addressed by its national…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said without prejudice to the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, the ruling is not sacrosanct as state governments cannot completely hands off the affairs of local councils in the 774 local government areas in the country.
At a press conference addressed by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, yesterday, the main opposition party said it was practically impossible for the state to be completely detached from local government.
The party declared support for its Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who has canvassed the application of a modified version of the Supreme Court judgment.
Makinde, had while expressing his view on the judgment, said: “The law is the law and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court. But it behooves on us to look for our own homegrown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting it is the grass that will suffer.”
According to the PDP, “the concern is very clear, and local governments are related to the state because they are closer to it. Now, as a party, we are reviewing those positions of the Supreme Court with concern.
“The fact that the Federal Government is trying to create another bureaucracy that would be corrupt or deviant in local government control; we think that would be another recipe for trouble. It would be close to where it would be available for manipulation from the Federal Government. We believe that if there are reforms to be made on the local government administration, it should be done in conjunction with the governors, not by the fiat of the Federal Government,” the party insisted.
The PDP further said it believed that “the Supreme Court verdict will not be the end of the matter, pointing out that the people, who have a responsibility for the local government, are the governors.
“The Federal Government doesn’t see people in my village; it is the governors. Therefore, if there are concerns, then it should be in conjunction with the local government so that the benefits can go to the people, not by some fiat. The law does not attempt the impossible. When it does, it will fall face down. I believe that we haven’t seen the end of that with respect to local government administration,” it added.
“The state government has responsibility. If there is a problem in the local government, they won’t call the Federal Government; they will call the state government. So, there must be that understanding that the state government has a duty, has a responsibility,” the opposition party stressed.
The judgment of the Supreme Court as delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, held that the local governments across the country should receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation.
He ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to receive and withhold funds allocated to local government areas (LGAs) in their states. The Supreme Court, also in the landmark judgment, ordered that the four-year tenure enjoyed by executives be extended to the offices of all local government chairmen across the country.
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