LG autonomy: Fayose reveals shocking position on Supreme Court ruling, uncovers governors’ massive power

Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has downplayed the recent autonomy granted to local governments in a landmark judgement by the apex court in the country while stressing that no executive chairman can emerge alone without the support of the state governor.

Fayose said this while responding to the Supreme Court’s decision granting financial independence to local governments, stating that state governors and state House of Assembly members will continue to exert control over local government affairs, including financial matters, despite the ruling.

The top opposition politician shared his thoughts on the recent Supreme Court judgment while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today,

The court had ruled that federal allocations intended for local governments should be paid directly into their accounts and prohibited governors from intercepting, tampering with, or withholding funds meant for local governments. Justice Emmanuel Agim delivered the ruling last Thursday.

Fayose stressed: “While I love and do not believe that any government should take local government funds, may I say to you very clearly this evening that you cannot take the baby from the mother?

“There is nobody that can become council chairman without a governor. Anybody telling you otherwise is wasting his time.

“Let me quickly remind you that the House of Assembly of every state controls the activities and checkmates the activities of the local government.

“While I was governor, I had the privilege of receiving money from Abuja. When you receive money from the account, some people manage the account. They are not politicians or the council chairman.

“Any council chairman who says ‘money is coming to me, I will disrespect my governor’ the House of Assembly will tell you to go and disobey him inside your house.

“This is because you can never even be a council chairman without the governor standing up for you. The House of Assembly regulates your activities.”