Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing the Edo North senatorial district, has expressed his strong support for the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
Speaking at a forum on local government autonomy organized by the House of Representatives on Monday, Oshiomhole emphasized the importance of character in governance and accountability.
The former Governor of Edo State highlighted the significant responsibilities of local government chairmen, given their proximity to the people, and advised them to allocate resources wisely for essential infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, and other public services.
On a lighter note, Oshiomhole remarked, “It’s better to have 774 local government chairmen who are thieves than one big thief,” adding that with this every local government in Nigeria will produce one or two billionaires, rather than having just one billionaire in the state.
The Eagle Online recalled that the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment on July 11, 2024, affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (amended).
The seven-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, unanimously upheld a suit brought by the Federal Government aimed at reinforcing the independence of local governments across the country.
The court also rejected the stance of state governments that sought to dissolve democratically elected local government councils.
