In a recent statement, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has raised concerns over the Supreme Court’s recent ruling affirming that local governments are entitled to receive monthly allocations directly from the federation account, as reported by Punch.
Fayose, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, expressed his views during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Despite the court’s decision, Fayose stated that state Houses of Assembly and governors would continue to hinder local government autonomy.
He highlighted the dependency of local government officials on state governors for their positions and noted that it is unrealistic to think anyone could become a council chairman without a governor’s support.
Fayose stressed the huge influence state assemblies have over local governments.
Drawing from his experience as a governor, he explained the financial management processes, noting that although funds are received from the federal account, local governments have limited control over their expenditure.
He described the role of local government commissioners as representatives of governors, overseeing the funds’ appropriation, and stated that local governments have no real power.
“Go to the council meeting on Wednesday or Friday, you will not find 10 per cent of the staff of the local government in the office. They don’t come. My name is Ayo Fayose and I want them to dispute this. They don’t come to work. When you make moves to bring them to book, both NULGE and all leaders of the local government will go and beg the governor.“
“They will be telling you, we will not vote for you. This is the way we operate at the local government. The state is more effective in administrative performance than the local government. At the local government, everybody comes to collect money. Even people have left some states. They live somewhere else and money just hit their accounts,” he stated….Seë_Morë