The 33 Oyo State Local Council Chairmen have dumped the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, in their State. This followed the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Local Government across the country.
The move was contained in a communique signed by all the 33 Chairmen, who unanimously declared their unalloyed support for the State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Reacting to the decision, the Oyo State ALGON’s Public Relation Officer, Ibrahim Akintayo, welcomed the development. He described the Chairmen’s stand as solidarity to Governor Makinde’s recent stand on Local Government autonomy as ruled by the apex court.
According to reports, the Chairmen attributed their unequivocal loyalty to Makinde for his exemplary leadership and unrivalled achievements since his assumption to office.
Recall that the Oyo State’s Governor had during a meeting with some stakeholders after the Supreme Court ruling, applauded the ruling. The Governor had stated that he would constitute committees to review the apex court’s ruling on Local Government autonomy.
“I called this meeting because I felt that though we have not seen the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the judgment of the Supreme Court, we have to be proactive. To discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns financial autonomy of the Local Government councils. This because I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we all swore to uphold.
“The law is the law, and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court. But it behooves on us to look for our own home-grown solutions. That can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting, it is the grass that will suffer,” Makinde had stated.
The Governor’s stand on the Supreme Court ruling had however, received mixed reactions from the public. With some supporting his stance and others criticizing him.
However, the stand of the Local Government Chairmen, was contained in a communique signed at the end of the meeting. It stated that the decision to move to pull out of ALGON was arrived at due to the need to protect and provide for the people in their various Local Government Areas.
It also stated that the intended association for Local Government Executive Chairmen will be registered under the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Part of the communique read: “At the general meeting of ALL the Local Government Councils of Oyo State, held on Saturday 3rd August 2024 at Ibadan, it was voluntarily agreed and resolved as follows:
“That in order to inter alia protect the interest of our people, we should forthwith form an umbrella association. Such organization will be registered under the relevant Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And its membership shall be institutional represented by the Chairmen of respective Local Government Councils.
“That the association shall remain committed to the democratic ideas of the system of Local Government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“Furthermore, the association shall ensure the delivery of the real development in Local Councils in the overall interest of our people at the local level.”
source: Leadership
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