ASen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is supportive of local governments in Nigeria to have autonomy in governance.
Akume made the assertion during the questions and answers section at the Ministerial Press Briefing on Wednesday in Abuja to mark Tinubu’s one year anniversary in office.
The SGF said Tinubu was interested and had shown commitment to rules of law and constitutionalism of the country, adding that the president had also showed good attitude towards true fiscal federalism since he assumed office.
Akume gave an assurance that since the previous government had already started a move on the controversy over the local government autonomy in Nigeria, Tinubu’s led-administration would ensure that it gives support to that effect.
“On the need for national dialogue for local government autonomy, I think that the National Assembly has done quite a lot on the issue of local government autonomy.
“I remember the last administration also came up with some executive orders to enhance independence of the local governments and the National Assembly is very supportive of that.
“The present government is also supportive of that, we believe and strongly too that we will continue to improve on the questions of autonomy for the local governments in Nigeria.
According to him, the present administration has recognised the fact that the local government is the closest tier of government to the people at the grassroots in particular.
He said this has called for the reason to utilise fund meant for the people judiciously to achieve good governance.
“In a typical federal set up, you have tiers of governments and these tiers of governments are also independent.
“One of them have access to the federation account which goes to each states and it is under the control of the governors of those states and the legislators of that state.
“The money going to the state was supposed to be applied prudently, efficiently for the benefit of the people. It is true that the bulk of people live in the state and local government levels, ” the SGF explained.
According to him, the whole purpose of sharing the nation’s wealth is to ensure that the welfare of the people is enhanced.
The SGF, however, gave kudos to some states governors who, according to him are trying their best to ensure that people at the grassroots were feeling the impacts of government through what he called ‘People’s Oriented Projects’.
“I want to state here that many of the states are also doing their best to the people and therefore, we will continue to give governors the chance to do their best for their people
“I am aware that people feel they are not doing their best, the legislators are also there to ensure that people feel impacts of governance at the local government levels in particular, ” he said.