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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized the federal government for what it describes as an attempt to create unnecessary bureaucracy through the recent Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to local government councils across Nigeria.
The opposition party, voicing its dissatisfaction, suggested that this development could lead to significant challenges.
Naija News recall that the Supreme Court had ruled that the 36 state governors could no longer control the funds allocated to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country.
The court also declared that local governments, if democratically elected, must independently manage their finances.
Reacting to the ruling, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, declared that the Federal Government is not superior to states in exercising each other’s constitutional roles.
He maintained that the judgment had created a constitutional lacuna that would throw up different challenges at the local government level.
Governor Makinde expressed concerns, noting that, “The law is the law and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court. But it behoves on us to look for our own homegrown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting it is the grass that will suffer,” referring to the potential fallout from the judgment.
During a press conference at the PDP headquarters on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, commented on Governor Makinde’s stance.
He emphasized the need for collaboration between the federal and state governments on local government reforms, rather than unilateral decisions by the federal government.
“We believe that if there are reforms to be made on the local government, it should be done in conjunction with the governors, not by the fiat of the federal government.
“But, of course, I believe that will not be the end of the matter as we speak because the people who have a responsibility for the local government are the governors.
“The federal government doesn’t see people in my village; it is the governors.
“If there is a problem in the local government, they won’t call the federal government; they will call the state government,” Ologunagba stated.
