Nasarawa scraps LG-state joint account

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has scrapped the joint account system that existed between the state government and the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Mr Peter Ahemba, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lafia, on Tuesday.

Ahemba explained that the action was in compliance with the decision of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to the  774 local government areas in the country.

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, affirmed the autonomy of the local governments in the country.

The apex court also ruled that the Federal Government should pay the allocation of the councils to their direct accounts.

It also ruled that states without democratically elected local governments should have such allocations withheld.

Speaking on the development, the governor’s aide said the Sule-led administration is law-abiding, adding that the move would enable the councils to attain more developmental strides.

“The governor is one of the accountable and transparent leaders in the country who believes in the rule of law and has nothing to hide.

“This suggests the move to do away with the hitherto existing joint account,” he added.

On the new wage, the governor’s aide said the state government would implement the N70,000 minimum wage signed into law by the Federal Government.

“You all recall that the governor was willing to implement the new minimum wage in August and pay arrears of three months.

“But the organised labour preferred the implementation of their promotions first, and the governor agreed with their request.

“The government is ready to begin discussions on the new minimum wage now that the promotions have been successfully implemented,” he added.

The media aide assured residents of the state that the government would continue to prioritise its welfare through the provision of quality infrastructure.

He added that the government would also ensure massive investment in the agricultural sector to address hunger and poverty in the state.