From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, has expressed the collective satisfaction of state governors with the Supreme Court’s ruling granting fiscal autonomy to local government areas.
Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ahead of a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman, noted that the judgement relieves the governors of significant burdens, as it devolves powers to the local governments, the third tier of government.
When asked about his reaction to the ruling, the NGF Chairman stated, “we welcome the Supreme Court’s judgement. Compliance is mandatory, and our Attorney Generals have applied for the enrolment order, which we will review thoroughly.”
He further explained that the governors are pleased with the power devolution regarding local government autonomy. “It alleviates a significant burden on governors. Many people are unaware of the financial support states provide to local governments, and that’s a crucial point here,” AbdulRahman added.
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The NGF has applied for the enrolment of the judgement and plans to review it in detail at their meeting next Wednesday, where they will decide on the next steps.
“As I mentioned, we haven’t yet seen the full details of the court order, so we are not fully informed on its contents,” he noted.
Addressing the specific impact on Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman, assured that the judgement would not adversely affect the state, as the state government has not been interfering with local government funds.
“This judgement won’t impact us negatively. We’ve never tampered with local government funds. They will need to manage their resources effectively, particularly with the upcoming minimum wage adjustments. Ensuring salaries are paid and traditional rulers receive their 5% allocation are key issues,” he explained.
Governor AbdulRahman, accompanied by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, mentioned that their visit to the Presidential Villa included discussions on various issues, including the minimum wage, the Supreme Court ruling, and other national concerns affecting states.
“We discussed several matters with the President, from the new minimum wage to the Supreme Court decision and other significant national issues. It was a comprehensive discussion,” he concluded.
