As reactions continue to trail the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has pledged that his administration will ensure the people of the state do not suffer from the fallout of the verdict.
On Monday, Governor Makinde established two committees tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the Supreme Court judgment and making recommendations to mitigate any negative impacts on the state’s residents.
Governor Makinde expressed concerns that the judgment has created a constitutional gap, which could lead to various challenges at the local government level. Although he supports transparency in council operations, he emphasized that the Supreme Court’s decision is not a one-size-fits-all solution to Nigeria’s complex problems.
He made these remarks during an Advisory and Consultative Committee Meeting with stakeholders in the local government system. This meeting was convened to outline major challenges faced by the councils and to develop strategies for a smooth implementation of the changes.
Highlighting his administration’s efforts, Governor Makinde noted that his government has consistently prioritized doing what is right for the people. This includes conducting two council elections to avoid the use of caretaker committees, clearing a backlog of debts owed to workers and pensioners at the council level, and addressing infrastructure deficits in primary healthcare and inner roads.
The meeting, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, was attended by council chairmen, leaders from the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and representatives from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies connected to the local government system.
Governor Makinde stated, “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 homegrown 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.”
Governor Makinde also shed light on the challenges his administration inherited, including a local government system burdened with unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions. He remarked, “I am saying this because Oyo State will get out of this even stronger. We are people that know what is good for our people. Before we came in, leave bonuses were last paid in 2017 and we have paid for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The Primary Health Care facilities, inner roads were all in bad shape. But we have been working collaboratively with the LGs to deliver dividends of democracy to our people. We were able to clear those salary arrears. We paid ₦18bn in pension and gratuities over this period. We upgraded about 209 PHCs, equipped about 264, and completed 60 model schools. We constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms and fixed some of our roads.”
Despite these efforts, Governor Makinde acknowledged ongoing challenges, such as a backlog of ₦55bn in pensions and gratuities owed by local governments. He assured that his administration is committed to developing infrastructure that will boost the economy and improve living standards for the people of Oyo State.
Following the closed-door meeting, Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Ojo, briefed the press, stating that the two committees set up by the governor have been given a timeline of four to six weeks to propose homegrown solutions to the issues created by the Supreme Court judgment.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biodun Aikomo, praised the governor’s proactive steps, noting that these measures will help address potential crises stemming from the judgment. He emphasized Governor Makinde’s commitment to the welfare of Oyo State’s people and the continued development of the state.
