We’ll comply after studying ruling – NGF

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, has said compliance to the ruling of the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments across Nigeria, was a given and that he and his colleagues welcomed the ruling.

Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, alongside his colleagues from Bauchi, Bala Mohammed and Imo, Hope Uzodimma, AbdulRahman said the governors are “happy with the devolution of power in respect to local government autonomy” as it “relieves the burden on governors.” He noted that the public “really don’t know how much states expense in bailing out local governments.”

However, the governor cautioned that the NGF was yet to see the full details of the court order and would need to study it carefully. “We haven’t seen the enrollment of the court order and so we really don’t know what is in there,” adding that the states attorney generals have applied for the enrollment in order to study it.”

When reminder that one key component of the judgment relates to the issue of local government elections, which has been a point of contention in many states, AbdulRahman acknowledged the challenge, stating that “the forum will meet next Wednesday, to look at the issue wholly and then come up with a resolution on that.”

Regarding the implications for states that do not have elected local government councils, the NGF chairman, speaking for his state, emphasised that Kwara State, which is one of the few states where local chairmen already enjoy autonomy, will not be significantly affected by the ruling. “it’s not going to affect the state. We’ve never tampered with local government funds. So it’s going to continue. What the local governments have to do is to manage themselves, especially with the oncoming minimum wage, to manage their affairs and make sure salaries are paid, traditional rulers get their 5 per cent and those are the main issues,” he said.

On the issue of minimum wage and President Tinubu’s meeting with Organised Labour and the indication that there might be a movement of figures beyond what was agreed, AbdulRahman said: “As you’re aware the tripartite committee has met and submitted its report. Yes, a movement of figures is the prerogative of the president which he will also transmitted the National Assembly for robust debate before it’s adopted.”

Asked what the governors will do, he said: “We’ve done our part at the tripartite committee level.“

The NGF’s response comes as the Supreme Court’s decision has been widely praised by various stakeholders, including the National Councilors’ Forum of Nigeria, the Labour Party, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, described the judgment as “courageous and salubrious,” stating that it has “not only restored our democracy but possibly hope in the democracy.”

NULGE’s National President, Ambali Olatunji, also welcomed the ruling, saying that local government autonomy would reduce Nigeria’s problems by at least 50 per cent and improve community security and food security.