Local Govt Autonomy Misnomer, Not Going To Work -Fayemi

Former Elite state governor; Dr Kayode Fayemi has given hi thoughts on the recent Supreme Court judgement reestablishung their independencem as the third tier of government.

“The President (Bola Tinubu) is a federalist, he is a leader in my party, we share quite a lot in common, but I do not know any federal entity anywhere in the world where the federal government becomes the driver of what happens in the local government.

“It does not happen anywhere in the world and the Nigerian Constitution in Section 2 is very clear that Nigeria is a federation of the federal (central government) and the state. it is not three-tier.

“The principle of federalism is clear, it is a principle of dual federation units. Anywhere in the world where we have federalism, it is the state or province or region either in India, U.S., Canada, or Australia.

“It is now up to the state to determine whether it wants to have 20 counties, or 50 or 200 local authorities based on its own local needs. This is a misnomer, it does not happen anywhere in the world.

“With this latest strategy, I assure you, in the first instance, I don’t see how workable it is; it not going to work.” -Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Former Ekiti Governor