Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has expressed concerns about the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local governments' right to receive monthly allocations directly from the federation account. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Fayose, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that despite the court's ruling, state Houses of Assembly and governors would continue to obstruct local government autonomy.
Fayose highlighted the influence of governors in local government affairs, stating that no one can become a local government chairman without a governor's support. "I am not a lawyer. I am a politician and by God’s grace today, I am an elder statesman. While I love and do not believe that any government should take local government funds, may I say to you very clearly this evening that you cannot take the baby from the mother? There is nobody that can become council chairman without a governor. Anybody telling you otherwise is wasting his time," Fayose said.
He explained that state legislatures control and oversee local government activities, making it challenging for local governments to exercise autonomy. "The House of Assembly of every state controls the activities and checkmates the activities of the local government. While I was governor, I had the privilege of receiving money from Abuja. When you receive money from the account, some people manage the account. They are not politicians or the council chairman."
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Fayose also criticized the work ethic of local government officials, alleging that many do not take their responsibilities seriously. "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."
The former governor concluded by emphasizing that state governments are more effective in administrative performance than local governments, suggesting that local government autonomy might not lead to improved governance at the grassroots level.
The Supreme Court's judgment has sparked debates on the future of local government administration in Nigeria, with some advocating for full autonomy to enhance grassroots governance, while others share Fayose's skepticism about the feasibility and effectiveness of such autonomy in practice.
