In response to a landmark Supreme Court decision granting full autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs), Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, expressed both relief and concern.
He acknowledged the significant impact of the ruling on state governance, highlighting the upcoming NGF meeting scheduled for next week to deliberate on the implications and chart a collective response.
Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Friday, AbdulRahman emphasized the pressing need for governors to address the newfound responsibilities and financial implications of the autonomy, particularly in supporting LGAs financially.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s governance landscape, prompting governors to strategize on navigating the evolving dynamics between state and local administrations.
“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 NGF Chairman told State House Correspondents.
Addressing the impact of the Supreme Court judgment on Kwara State, Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman stated that the ruling would primarily affect Local Government Areas (LGAs) by requiring them to independently manage their finances, including salary payments for workers and traditional rulers.
He remarked, “This judgment won’t affect Kwara State adversely. We have never interfered with local government funds, so our practice will continue. The local governments must now manage themselves, particularly with the implementation of the new minimum wage, ensuring that salaries are paid and traditional rulers receive their 5% allocation.”
Governor AbdulRahman noted that the specifics of the court order are still unclear, as the official document has yet to be reviewed.
He added, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum will convene next Wednesday to thoroughly examine the judgment and formulate a resolution.”
