Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and Governor of Kwara, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, has said that the state governors are happy with the Supreme Court judgment that granted fiscal autonomy to local government areas.
The NGF chairman who stated this to State House correspondents before a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the judgement has relived the governors of a burden, noting that they are happy with the decentralisation of powers to the third tier of government.
Governor AbdulRazaq explained that following the apex court’s judgement, a compliance order has been given to all states Attorney Generals for the enrolment order and will be reviewing it next Wednesday to decide the way forward.
As for Kwara State in particular, AbdulRahman said the judgment will not negatively affect it as the state government has not been tampering with council funds.
He urged the local governments to ensure judicious management of resources especially with the oncoming minimum wage, to make sure salaries are paid, traditional rulers get their 5%.
The NGF boss, who was joined by his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, informed that they were in the Presidential Villa to see the president on various issues ranging from minimum wage, the Supreme Court ruling and other national issues that concerns states as well.