Bauchi strategises to implement LG autonomy

The Bauchi State Government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, has expressed its readiness to fully implement the local government autonomy as directed by a Supreme Court in a judgment over the matter.

Hammayo disclosed the state government’s decision in a press briefing after a stakeholders’ consultative meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House presided over by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed alongside his Deputy, Auwal Jatau and the Speaker of the Bauchi House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman.

The SSG stated that the Bauchi State Government will soon present two Executive Bills to the Bauchi State House of Assembly on how to go about the implementation.

He stressed, “Over the last six to seven months, the most topical issue in Nigeria was the issue of the autonomy of the local government areas, and this came up as the result of the Supreme Court judgment, which granted them autonomy.

“A lot of discussions have gone around it and the governor felt the necessity for us as a state to look at issues around LGAs autonomy and to come up with a framework that will guide us in the implementation of the local government autonomy.”

Aminu Hammayo further revealed that “a roundtable meeting of stakeholders was convened, which was held throughout the day with chairpersons of the LGAs in attendance.

“We had a number of paper presentations dwelling around local government administration, revenue generation and sharing formula, current structure, and other relevant issues.”

He added that there were various inputs and debates on the presentations leading to the formulation of two bills that will be sent to the House of Assembly to define how best to run local government administration in Bauchi State.

“Two draft bills were prepared and presented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice.

“They are the Local Government Administration Bill 2025 and a Law for the State to implement local government autonomy.

“The two bills were discussed and scrutinised by the stakeholders at the meeting, reactions were elicited and notes were taken on how best we should  accommodate all views and opinions that will lead to having perfect legislation,”

The SSG emphasised.

As a result, he assured the residents that the bills will be presented to the State House of Assembly for legislative purposes and passage into law in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment on the local government autonomy.