Why LG autonomy can’t work — Fayose
Ayo Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, has voiced concerns on the ruling on Thursday by the Supreme Court upholding local governments' entitlement to monthly funding straight from the federation account.
The leader of the Peoples Democratic Party highlighted that state Houses of Assembly and governors will continue to be obstacles to local government autonomy even after the court's ruling.
This was stated by Fayose during his Sunday appearance as a guest on Politics Today on Channels Television.
The Ekiti politician asserted that the governor's backing is necessary for any local government chairman to be elected from the grassroots level, adding that the FG and the court "cannot take the baby from the mother."
"I am not a lawyer," he declared. By God's grace, I am both a politician and an elderly gentleman now. I adore the mother and I think no government should take money from the local government, but tonight, I want to be very clear that you cannot take the kid away from her. Without a governor, no one can hold the position of chairman of the council. Anyone who argues with you is wasting his time.
"Just to refresh your memory, the House of Assembly in every state oversees and restrains the actions of local government. As governor, I was privileged to receive funding from Abuja. Some people handle the account when you get money from it. They're not politicians or the council chairman.
"The local government commissioner is the exclusive representative of the governor. The others are council pensioners, employees, and representatives of the local administration. And they authorise the money. However, what authority are you giving the local government when you now claim to be granting them? Not a power.
According to the PDP chieftain, most council members don't take their jobs seriously, aside from state politicians who obstruct the process.
He claims that on some days of the week, a lot of employees don't bother to show up for work.
The House of Assembly will order you to go and disobey any council chairman who says, "Money is coming to me, I will disrespect my governor," within your home. This is because you can never even be a council chairman without the governor standing up for you. The House of Assembly regulates your activities.
"If you attend the council meeting on a Wednesday or Friday, you won't see ten percent of the local government employees present in the office. They never show up. I want them to refute this. My name is Ayo Fayose. They never show up for work. NULGE and all local government leaders will go to the governor and plead with him when you take action to hold them accountable.
"They will inform you that we will not cast our votes for you. At the municipal government, we do things this way. When it comes to administrative performance, the state outperforms local government. Everyone goes to the local government to pick up money. In certain states, people have even moved out. They reside somewhere, and money is merely hit their accounts,” he added.
