Gov Eno Commends Supreme Court Ruling on LG Autonomy But Express Concern Over Implementation
By Emmanuel Uffot
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has also joined the outpour of reaction over the recent Supreme Court Ruling granting financial autonomy to the local government councils.
He described the ruling as a welcome development and relief to state governments.
But the Governor has expressed concerns over its effective implementation and the ability of local government councils to handle their financial responsibilities.
The Governor noted that the Supreme Court verdict on local government autonomy remains sacrosanct, being the pronouncement of the final court in the land.
He pointed out that the judgement will not impact on the Akwa Ibom State Government in anyway, stressing that so far, under his administration and even in previous years, local governments have been getting their due allocations without any interference with the operations of the joint account.
He affirmed that his administration’s ARISE Agenda blueprint, places a premium on rural development.
Stressing further that the present state government has channeled volumes of funds into offsetting arrears of gratuities, pensions, salaries and other entitlements to local government workers. In his reckoning, autonomy granted the third tier of government is a relief to the state government rather than a problem as some might think.
He expressed hope that local governments, under the new arrangement, would take over the responsibility of prompt payment of salary and other emoluments to teachers, health workers and other local government workers to avoid leaving unnecessary burden of arrears to successive governments.
“The Supreme Court has made pronouncements. That is the final court of the land, but for us in Akwa Ibom, honestly I don’t see us having any issues. For me, this is a welcome development because I know how much we, as a state, support the local governments.
“Since I assumed office, I have not touched any funds allocated to the local governments. The only challenge I envisage now, which we have to sit down and find a way around is how the local government workers would be paid promptly. How will primary school teachers be paid promptly. How do we clear the backlog that we have.
“Our ARISE Agenda is also centered around developing the local government areas, so with this judgement, I feel relieved but my concern is how they would bear the brunt of the autonomy.”
Since the dawn of the present democratic dispensation, the issue of joint account between state and local government has always raised concern among Nigerians given the state of under development of the various local government areas.
The heads of the local governments being the Chairmen, have always blame their ineffectiveness in developing the rural areas on the fact that the State government, collects their statutory allocations from the federation account and give the council’s a fraction and keep the chunk.
This development had over the years led to clamour for financial autonomy to local government councils which was to make them collect their allocation direct from the federation account.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari made attempt to seek autonomy for local governments, but ironically, the chairmen did not lend their support to this cause. So the effort floated around till Buhari left office.
Recalled that the apex court had last week Thursday July11, 2024 declared in a landmark judgement that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for the local government administrations.
In the lead Judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Supreme Court noted that the refusal of state governments to allow financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades.
He said because of this, local governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from state governors who act in their stead.
Justice Agim ruled that the 774 local government councils should manage their funds themselves.
The apex court directed that local government allocation from the federation account should be paid direct to them henceforth.
The suit seeking local government autonomy was instituted by the Federal Government through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi against the 36 state governors specifically for holding onto local government allocation through joint account.
Going by the judgement which has now barred state governors from collecting allocation meant for local government councils being the third tier of government, the ruling as interpreted by some lawyers precludes allocation, being sent to the various transition government instituted by state governors after expiration of the tenure of elected Chairmen.
Many Nigerians even as they expressed concern whether the councils would be able to effectively handle these funds for good, however applaud President Bola Tinubu for the bold step in ending what they termed an ‘ abnormally’.
