Chairman, Senate Services, Sen. Sunday Karimi, has commended President Bola Tinubu over the judgment the Supreme Court delivered on Thursday, granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country.
Karimi, who represents Kogi-West Senatorial District said the President should be named in Nigeria’s “Hall of Fame ” for the financial freedom the local governments would now enjoy, following the apex court’s decision.
He told reporters in Abuja on Friday that the National Assembly would ensure compliance by the various state governments, while also taking up the responsibility of amending the constitution to address inherent contentious issues.
He listed one of such areas as the transfer of the responsibility of conducting local council elections from the various state electoral bodies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Karimi stated, “I thank Mr President for mustering the courage to do the right thing. Since 1999, the third tier of government literally speaking, has been nonexistent.
“State governments treated them as appendages of the state governments. No President has been able to change that. But, within one year, President Tinubu has returned the local governments to the owners -the masses.
“Local governments, if well-operated, will ensure a better existence for our people. President Tinubu took due cognisance of this and courageously took the bull by the horn.”
The senator noted that this would not be the end of the battle as some state governors would fight back.
“Some state governors will fight back. President Tinubu allowed the judiciary a free hand to operate in this particular instance, irrespective of the fact that he is but a first term President who may desire a comeback in 2027”, he said.
Speaker further in support Tinubu, he added, “I align myself with the President on this. It takes a man of the people, it takes a man of courage, it takes a man that knows and feels the pulse of the masses to make this happen.
“He has seen it all; as a former senator and a former governor. Former President Buhari promised to push this but lacked the political will to pursue it. It will not stop there.
“The National Assembly through our oversight responsibility will ensure that revenue from the federal purse goes to where it is supposed to go. We will ensure that the Supreme Court’s judgment is obeyed to the letter; that allocation is shared between the three tiers of government in accordance with the law.”
Karimi said the next bold move would be for local government elections to be conducted by the INEC, saying that the National Assembly had the duty to amend the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution to ensure that credible people were elected to the helms of the local government administration.
Karimi spoke more, “This will ensure that capable individuals can step forward to contest local government elections. Experienced people will be needed to manage the funds effectively, and prioritise the development of the grassroots for the masses to become actively involved in shaping the future of their local governments.
“A lot of money that has gone to the local governments over the years were either taken over by the state governments through the joint account or not accounted for. Prosperity will remember President Tinubu for this epoch making achievement, his second term is assured.”