Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has asserted that the federal government is not constitutionally superior to state governments, emphasizing that the Oyo government is best suited to determine what is good for its people.
During an emergency consultative stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Governor Makinde addressed the implications of a recent Supreme Court judgment that granted autonomy to local government councils across Nigeria.
He highlighted a gap created by this judgment in relation to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I’ve been reading a lot of sensational headlines in the newspapers,” Governor Makinde said.
“They claim, ‘The governors’ hands have been tied; this is a first for Nigeria.’
This morning, NULGE declared, ‘With this judgment, there’s now freedom in the land.’”
In the meeting, Governor Makinde proposed discussing the Supreme Court’s decision on the financial autonomy of local government councils.
He pointed out that the judgment has created a constitutional gap.
“We all swore to uphold the constitution,” he stated.
“But when laws conflict, it’s our duty to find our own solutions for transparency and effective operation. When elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.”
Governor Makinde recalled that since his administration began, Oyo State has conducted local government elections twice.
“When I was sworn in on May 29, 2019, I dissolved the local government councils,” he said. “The Supreme Court has now stated that governors do not have the right to dissolve these councils. So why did I dissolve them then? It was because elections were held into the LCDAs, and the Supreme Court has clarified that there are only 774 local governments in Nigeria.”
He emphasized the need to address confusion and ensure the stability of structures within the state. “We will address the major challenges at the local government levels and develop our own solutions,” he said.
“Addressing these challenges will ensure seamless implementation of processes that allow Oyo State to continue running smoothly.”
Governor Makinde also addressed the issue of local government elections in Oyo State, noting that the state does not have caretaker committees at the local level.
“We planned the elections meticulously so that not a single day was wasted,” he explained.
He reaffirmed the responsible administration in Oyo State and the state’s capability to make decisions that benefit its people.
“We don’t need the federal government to tell us what to do; we know what’s best for our people,” he declared.
“When we took over in 2019, the local governments were burdened with backlogs of salaries, gratuities, and pensions. Oyo State will emerge stronger from this.”
In conclusion, Governor Makinde stated, “Constitutionally, the federal government is not superior to the state government; their jurisdictions are coordinate. So, we will continue to do what is right in Oyo State, as we have been doing.”
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