The candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)in the November 16th governorship election in Ondo State, Hon Olugbenga Edema, has picked holes in the state government’s opposition to the suit filed by the Federal Government on Local Government autonomy at the Supreme Court.
Oedema, who said the autonomy of the local government would bring development to the grassroots, noted that the governors who are against the local government autonomy have seen the funds at the local government as a way to hold on to public funds.
He argued that the autonomy of the local government would enable the third tier of government to perform their constitutional roles as guaranteed under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Mr Kayode Ajulo (SAN), had filed a reply on behalf of the Ondo State government against the suit on the local government filed by the Federal Government pending at the Supreme Court.
Regarding the development, Edema said the state government under the All Progressives Congress(APC) has stiffened development at the grassroots by using the funds accruable to the third tier of government for personal aggrandisement.
The former lawmaker and OSOPADEC chairman promised to grant local government full autonomy when he assumed office as governor of the state on February 24, 2025, under the platform of NNPP.
While saying some governors use such funds at the local government for purposes that are against the law of the land, Edema urged the people of the state not to allow the state government to use the money meant for the development of the local government for election purposes.
He said, “When elected under the platform of NNPP, I will ensure full local government autonomy and the return of all markets to the Local governments. I will also ensure that tenement rates, vehicle stamps, marker rates and all such legitimate rates collected by the local governments are utilised by the local government authorities and utilised by them.
“Many of the staff of the local governments in Ondo State no longer go to work because all their roles have been taken over by the state government, contrary to the spirit and letter of the constitution which guarantees the existence of the local government.”
Edema, however, asked the state governor, Governor Ayedatiwa, to direct the attorney-general of Ondo State, Kayode Ajulo (SAN) to immediately withdraw their opposition to the Federal Government’s case before the Supreme Court on the local government autonomy.
