August 4, 2024.
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Oyo State council chairmen have pulled out of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), over Supreme Court’s judgment granting financial autonomy to Local Governments (LGs) across the country.
In a unified statement, the 33 local government chairmen in the state collectively pledged their allegiance and backing to Governor Seyi Makinde.
The YorubaTimes recall that, In response to the court’s verdict, Governor Makinde held a meeting with stakeholders and set up committees to assess and review the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.
Makinde at the meeting said the FG has created a lacuna between the decision of the court and the constitution that brought them to power.
He said, ““I called this meeting because I felt that even though we have not seen the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court, we have to be proactive and discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns financial autonomy of the local government councils because I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we all swore to uphold.
“The law is the law, and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court. But it behooves on us to look for our own home-grown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting, it is the grass that will suffer,” the governor had stated” The Governor stated.
However, the Governor’s position on the court ruling has brought forth mixed reaction among the populace.
Some supporting his stance while others opposing him, saying his position was based on selfishness.
According to the communique released, the joint statement revealed that the chairmen have decided to form a new association to better serve and protect the interests of their constituents in their respective local government areas.
Part of the communique read: “At the general meeting of ALL the Local Government Councils of Oyo State, held on Saturday 3rd August 2024 at Ibadan, it was voluntarily agreed and resolved as follows:
“That in order to inter alia protect the interest of our people, we should forthwith form an umbrella association. Such organisation will be registered under the relevant Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its membership shall be institutional-represented by the chairmen of respective local government councils.
“That the association shall remain committed to the democratic ideas of the system of Local Government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“Furthermore, the association shall ensure the delivery of the real development in local councils in the overall interest of our people at the local level.”
