The battle for local government autonomy has taken a new turn as Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has spoken out against the Federal Government’s approval of autonomy for the 774 local governments in Nigeria.
In a recent State of the State Address, Makinde argued that the only way to lift people out of poverty and into prosperity is by increasing productivity. He emphasized the need to attract businesses to the state and enable them to set up shops across all zones, not just one Zone.
Makinde also exposed the Federal Government’s hypocrisy in accusing governors of misusing local government funds. He stated that the Federal Government takes 52% of the funds from the Federation Account, while the states and local governments share the remaining 48%. This, he said, is a case of “kettle calling pot black”.
The Governor pointed out that the exchange rate problem and the departure of multinationals are symptoms of a larger issue – a lack of productivity. He cited the example of a Moroccan investment in MOCA FOAM, which became less viable due to the exchange rate fluctuation.
Makinde emphasized the need to engage with the people and address the root causes of the problem, rather than pointing fingers. He expressed confidence in Oyo State’s fundamentals, citing interest from outside investors as a sign that the state is on the right track.
In conclusion, Makinde’s speech highlighted the need for productivity and autonomy for local governments, while also exposing the Federal Government’s hypocrisy in the sharing of funds. His emphasis on engagement and addressing root causes rather than symptoms is a call to action for all stakeholders in the LG autonomy battle.
Recall that federal government has approached the Supreme Court on May 27, 2024 with a suit seeking to compel governors of 36 states of the federation to grant full autonomy to the local government in their domain and Supreme Court, on Thursday, 13 June 2024 reserved judgement in the said suit filled by the federal government.
