Makinde Talks Tough Over Supreme Court Ruling On LG Financial Autonomy, Sets Up Review C’tees

“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.

“Go back a little bit, what we inherited as an administration in 2019 was a local government system that was owing backlog of salaries, gratuities, pensions. I am saying this because Oyo State will get out of this even stronger. We are people that know what is good for our people. We can run our affairs by ourselves. The FG is not superior constitutionally to the state government though they have more resources than the states. So, we can do what is right in Oyo State and we have been doing what is right.

“For the primary school teachers, the Chairman of NUT is here. Before we came in, leave bonuses were last paid in 2017 and we paid that of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Primary health care facilities, inner roads were all in bad shape. We Al have been working collaboratively with the LGs to deliver dividends of democracy to 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.

” 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.

Credit: Western mirror News