From News Editor
President Bola Ahmed TInubu is in support of autonomy for Local Governments, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has said.
According to him, the Federal Government will do its best to give effect to this idea.
Akume spoke at a news conference to mark the commencement of ministerial briefings ahead of the May 29 first anniversary of the Tinubu Administration.
With him at the event were Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu and Minister of Information and National Oreientation Muhammed Idris.
The SGF said President Tinubu has a commitment to uphold the rule of law, the tenets of federalism, the constitution and autonomy for local government.
He said: “On the need for national dialogue for local government autonomy, I think that the National Assembly has done quite a lot on that issue.
“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 government areas in Nigeria.”
According to him, the present administration has recognised the fact that local government areas are the closest tier of government to the people at the grassroots in particular.
“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 state 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.” { Nation}
