The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has commended the governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for his firm commitment to local government financial autonomy.
The group described his stance as a significant step towards strengthening democracy and fostering development at the grassroots level.
In a statement issued yesterday, NCYP chairman Isaac Abrak praised Governor Yahaya’s decision to grant full financial control to the chairmen of the state’s 11 local government areas in accordance with last year’s Supreme Court ruling.
He said the governor’s actions reflected his respect for the rule of law and aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to empower local governments to tackle poverty and insecurity across Nigeria.
“This also shows his alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to combat poverty and insecurity by directly empowering the 774 local government councils across Nigeria,” Abrak stated.
The NCYP also urged other state governors to follow Governor Yahaya’s example, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in local governance.
The group praised him for refraining from manipulating the Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) system, a practice that has led to the mismanagement of funds in some states.
The NCYP noted that rather than exploiting administrative loopholes, the governor has allowed local councils to allocate and manage resources directly for the benefit of their communities.
The NCYP called on local government chairmen to use their newly granted financial autonomy responsibly, ensuring that funds are spent transparently and effectively to improve citizens’ lives.
Additionally, the group urged the Federal Committee on Local Government Financial Autonomy, led by Senator George Akume, secretary to the federation government, to provide regular updates on the implementation process.
“This reform is a pro-masses, national initiative, and public engagement is vital for its success,” the statement read.
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