APC GOVERNORS REGECT AUTONOMY FOR NIGERIA’S LOCAL COUNCILS The governors of the All Progressive Congress, APC, at the end of their meeting on Wednesday rejected autonomy for Nigerian local governments. The governors, in a communiqué released after their meeting in Lafia, said the National Assembly was right by not including local government autonomy in the ongoing constitutional amendment. The eight point communiqué released after their five hour meeting in Lafia was read by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. The governors said autonomy for the local governments would undermine the fundamental principle of federalism and push the country towards a unitary system. The meeting of the governors, called Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), was attended by nine governors and one deputy governor. The attendees are the host, Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, and Abdullazez Yari of Zamfara. Others are Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Kashim Shettima of Borno, and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo. The deputy governor of Imo, Eze Madumere, also attended while Yobe governor was not represented but sent in apology. “Recognizing the fact that federalism is the basis of our sovereignty, is a matter within the purview of the federating unit and every attempt to legislate by the national assembly on aspect of local government administration will tilt the country towards a unitary state. This will undermine and weaken the fundamental principle of our federalism,” the governors said. The governors also recommended that the power to amend the revenue allocation formula be removed from the presidency and given to the National Assembly.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 07:08:52 +0000
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