By Mark Lenu
An activist in Rivers State, Comrade Vincent Ajasin has said Governor Siminalayi Fubara will comply with the autonomy of local governments in line with the recent Supreme Court judgment. Last week, the apex court declared autonomy for local governments, ruling that state governments should desist from holding funds meant for LGAs.
The court also declared as illegal, the appointment of caretaker committees for local governments, insisting that the administrators of LGs must the democratically elected. Speaking with our correspondent, the activist said the governor will comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court, assuring the public that an election will be conducted in October to replace the current caretakers with elected officials.
“The Supreme Court decision on local government autonomy is a welcome development that every well-meaning Nigerian should applaud. “In the past eight years or more, the workers of local government have stagnated in terms of promotion. But when Governor Fubara came in, he paid the backlog of their outstanding minimum wage and promoted them.
“That tells you that this governor is rooted in democracy and he will do everything within his reach to ensure the independence of the local government in line with the supreme court judgment. “The appointing of LG caretaker committees by the governor was born out of circumstance as he was handicapped at the time.
“By God willing, on October 5, the LG election will be held and we will have elective LG council executives. So, there is no need to panic.
“I am very sure that this governor we have will not tamper with the funds of the local government, and if he does, we will speak out and condemn it,” Ajasin said.
