Tinubu Hailed over Council Autonomy
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Member representing South East on the Governing Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has commended President Bola Tinubu for insisting on the fiscal autonomy of local government councils.
Addressing the National Executive Committee (NEC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa recently, Tinubu had frowned at the continued fiddling with the local government funds by governors.
The president noted that he has been patient with the governors, lamenting that despite the unambiguous judgment of the Supreme Court affirming the fiscal autonomy of Local Councils, most state governors continued to emasculate the funding of the local government system in the country.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Onuigbo regretted that the low-level democratic benefits in the 774 councils in the past 26 years of fourth republic follows the undue interference by state chief executives in the running of grass roots governance.
He expressed delight to hear the President’s passionate declarations in the presence of governors and party men.
“What this means is that governors who have been tampering with Local Government funds should be prepared to show where the money went.
“Mr President is determined; and my understanding of the tone and tenor of his statement, some governors will go down for seizing Local Government money through various means.
“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for me personally and the Nigerian people to continue to commend Mr. President for remaining dogged, determined, resolute in trying to resolve this issue,” Onuigbo noted.
