Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has raised concerns over the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local governments’ right to receive monthly allocations directly from the federation account. During his appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” the People’s Democratic Party chieftain highlighted the persistent challenges facing local government autonomy.
Fayose argued that despite the court ruling, the influence of state governors and state Houses of Assembly would continue to hinder the effectiveness of local government independence. He emphasized that no local government chairman could emerge without a governor’s support, likening the relationship to that of a mother and her child.
“I am not a lawyer. I am a politician and, by God’s grace, an elder statesman. While I love and do not believe any government should take local government funds, you cannot take the baby from the mother. Nobody can become council chairman without a governor. Anyone claiming otherwise is wasting their time,” Fayose asserted.
State Control and Legislative Influence
Fayose pointed out that state Houses of Assembly play a crucial role in regulating local government activities, further complicating the push for autonomy. He recounted his experience as governor, where he received funds from Abuja but noted that local government officials, not politicians, managed these accounts.
“The House of Assembly of every state controls and checkmates local government activities. When I was governor, I received money from Abuja, but local government officials, workers, and pensioners managed the funds. The only representative of the governor was the local government commissioner. What power are you giving to them if you claim to grant local governments autonomy? No power,” he explained.
The former governor stressed that local government officials often fail to take their responsibilities seriously, citing absenteeism as a significant issue. According to him, many workers do not show up to work on certain days, undermining the efficiency of local governance.
Challenges of Local Government Administration
Fayose’s critique extended to the practical challenges faced by local governments in Nigeria. He warned that any council chairman who attempts to act independently of the governor would face swift repercussions from the state House of Assembly. The legislative body, he argued, has the authority to regulate local government activities and ensure compliance with state directives.
“Any council chairman who says, ‘Money is coming to me, I will disrespect my governor,’ will be told by the House of Assembly to obey him at home. You can’t become a council chairman without the governor’s support. The House of Assembly regulates your activities,” Fayose noted.
He also highlighted the lax attitude of many local government workers, who often neglect their duties. “Go to the council meeting on Wednesday or Friday, you will not find 10 percent of the staff in the office. They don’t come. When you try to hold them accountable, both the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and local leaders will beg the governor,” Fayose added.
Fayose concluded that the current system allows for significant administrative inefficiencies at the local government level, with some officials living outside their states while still receiving salaries. He emphasized that the state government remains more effective in administrative performance than local governments.
Source: Punch
