LG Autonomy: Is Handouts From Abuja Sustainable? – Gov Makinde Reacts To Supreme Court Verdict

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has shared his reservations about the Supreme Court’s verdict on the financial autonomy of the Local Government Councils.

Recall that on Thursday, the apex court ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils.

Reacting to the development, Makinde opined that the Supreme Court ruling is a mere “distraction”.

Speaking with some members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, Makinde said the real issue is that the country is not producing enough.

The governor insisted that the country must tackle the problem of productivity instead of worrying about LGA autonomy.

Makinde questioned the sustainability of the trend of LGAs receiving allocations from the federal government.

He said, “They said there is a judgment of the supreme court on local government autonomy.

“I think it is just a distraction. We must face the real issue that we have.

“The issue that we have is that we are not producing enough.

“We are not productive. Maybe it may be part of the problem (LGA autonomy), we want to have value for what is being shared (federal allocations) but our problem is productivity.

“How much are those LGAs generating within their domains?

“Can they survive without handouts from Abuja? Handouts from Abuja, is that the way to go? Is it sustainable?”