The Supreme Court on Thursday in a ruling granted local government areas financial autonomy and ordered the Federal Government to pay funds directly to local government area accounts.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the Supreme Court judgment which granted financial autonomy to local government areas in Nigeria as a distraction to the “real” issues facing the country.
Governor Makinde, who said that one of the real issues facing Nigeria that is more important than local government financial autonomy is the high cost of food, said that there is hunger in Nigeria and that people should focus on the real issues.
The Supreme Court on Thursday in a ruling granted local government areas financial autonomy and ordered the Federal Government to pay funds directly to local government area accounts.
The apex court described the action of state governors holding onto local government funds as unconstitutional.
However, reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the National President, Chris Isiguzo, Governor Makinde said that Nigerians should rather focus on fighting hunger in the country.
In a video from the meeting he posted on his verified X platform account, Makinde said, “So the judgment of the Supreme Court, there is local government autonomy, financial autonomy, and all of that, and I will still say it, I think it’s just a distraction. We must face the real issues that we have.”
Makinde added, “The issue that we have is that we are not producing enough. We are not productive. Whatever it is that we are sharing in Abuja, which is what this FACC is all about. Whatever is in Abuja, share it with the local government. Is that our problem?
“Maybe it is a part of the problem, but yes, we want to have value for what is being shared. But our real problem is productivity.
“So now this is going to be the discussion for the next maybe one month or so when the issue of hunger and anger in the land will still be under the table. It’s a big issue.
“The Federal Government is saying now we need to import food. It’s a big shame. Yes, it’s a big shame on this country.
“We cannot feed ourselves, and then they are saying we should go back to those things that will allow us to bring confidence back to our people and to ensure that this country is back on the path of growth and progress.”
