The Supreme Court of Nigeria has decided that henceforth, Allocations for the 774 Local Governments should be paid directly to the Local Governments purse.
Federal Government of Nigeria, in compliance with the judgment, has set a three months commencement period for the process of full implementation.
The Governors across Nigeria are not happy with the decision of the Supreme Court and expectedly so.
Until now, Governors across the Country have been accused of misappropriating Local Government funds through selected Caretaker Committees or those who were elected through fraudulent elections conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commissions.
The process to release the Local Governments from the stifling holds of State Governors has been on for a long time but it could not see the light of the day as a result of the Constitutional provisions which stipulates that for the Bill to pass, two thirds of the Houses of Assembly in the Country must support it.
It is common knowledge that most members of these Assemblies are subservient to the State Governors and would dare not support such a Bill against the interest of the State Governors.
Unfortunately for the Governors, the present Attorney general of the Federation and Minister for Justice, on behalf of the Federal Government, took a bold and unexpected step by approaching the Supreme Court to seek Financial Autonomy for the Local Governments.
All the Governors in Nigeria opposed the move at the Supreme Court but the Federal Government prevailed and since then some of the Governors have become restless.
Most notably is the Governor of Oyo state who, at a function of the Oyo state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, few hours after the judgment was delivered, described the said Judgment as a distraction.
A few days after, Governor Makinde convoked a stakeholders meeting where he declared that the Federal Government can not tell him how to run Oyo state.
He set up Committees to review the judgment and come up with suggestions on how to comply with the judgment in line with ” home grown reality”, whatever he meant by that.
The spontaneous and angry remarks by Governor Makinde elicited suspicion.
He was the first Governor to react to the judgment and the only one so far who reacted with anger and bitterness.
Infact, he was daring.
The question is, what could have been responsible for the Governor’s anger and frustrations?
It has been alleged that Governor Makinde had made the monthly Allocations of the 33 Local Governments in Oyo state a collateral to secure Loans.
The Governor has not denied this allegations.
If that is the case, then, there is a big problem and the anger of the Governor is understandable, though, not justified.
I have the privilege of serving as a Supervisory councilor in my Local Government and I understand the implication of such a dilemma.
It is a precursor to the dreaded ” zero Allocation” syndrome if the status quo before the judgment is maintained.
However, now, It implies that the Governor will have nothing to service the Loan he took with the Local Governments monthly Allocations as collateral.
So, why would the Governor not be agitated since such Loan contract agreements are irrevocable and the flow of funds have been blocked ?
I have a golden advice for the 33 Local Government Chairmen in Oyo state. The Heads of Local Governments Administration and the Directors of Finance.
No matter how pressured you are by anyone, do not undertake to engage in illegal and criminal directives that negates the judgment of the Supreme Court.
We all know how this things work and the citizens have become more conscious and alive to responsibilities of asking questions when necessary.
I see no legal ways Local Governments monthly Allocations in Oyo state could be used to service Loans henceforth.
It was criminal and illegal ab initio.
There is no Law that empowers a state Governor to make the monthly Allocations of Local Governments part of an arrangement to secure Loans.
If any Local Government desired to secure a Loan, it ought to be the business of the Local Government not the Governor.
I do not know what to call a situation whereby the whole monthly Allocations of all the Local Governments in a state are tied to a Loan arrangements taken by someone who has no legal access to the funds.
It is the heights of illegality and criminality if it were to be so.
Henceforth, the 33 Local Government Chairmen, the Heads of Local Government Administration and the Directors of Finance must bear in minds that unlike the Governor, they lack immunity against prosecution.
If any of them are found wanting, they will surely be guests of the EFCC.
Monthly Allocations are released to Local Governments for the developments of the Council Areas and not meant for being tied to Loans taken by Governors.
Neither are they released for any Governor to spend on behalf of the Local Governments.
” Alaba kii se eru Ibeji, bi a se bi eru la bi Omo”.
There is no Governor in Nigeria who can allow the president of Nigeria to use his state’s monthly Allocations as collateral for loans.
Neither is there a Governor who could love the president to the point of surrendering his state’s monthly Allocations for the president to spend.
The Federal Government has done Its part by securing a judgement that allows a direct flow of funds to the Local Governments.
It is incumbent on the Local Government Chairmen and Career officers to respond by being responsible in protecting the freedom given to them.
I have said it sometimes and I will repeat it, that freedom to receive those funds directly is also a free ticket to the prison if care is not taken.
Do not be an accomplice to crime.
A word is enough for the wise.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
