Former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the full and practical execution of the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Autonomy.
He said implementation of the judgement is the only way the Renewed Hope Agenda can be genuinely felt by Nigerians at the grassroots.
Speaking as a veteran local government administrator and respected elder statesman, Oyelese described local government autonomy as the lifeblood of rural development and the surest way to restore citizens’ confidence in governance.
According to him, the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment that ordered direct disbursement of allocations from the Federation Account to the 774 Local Government Councils and prohibited the use of caretaker committees was a long-awaited victory for the people.
He said: “Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees a system of local government by democratically elected councils. That provision was designed to make government accessible and accountable to the people.
Drawing from his experience as a former local government chairman, Elder Oyelese lamented how the system has been reduced to a shadow of itself.
“It is disheartening that a chairman elected by the people must apply for approval before repairing a culvert or building a classroom. That defeats the essence of democracy,” he said.
He noted that most projects attributed to the local governments are executed by contractors unfamiliar with the communities, creating capital flight and denying local artisans and youths the economic benefits that should accompany development.
EOyelese recalled that between 1991 and 1993, when local government administrators were given full control of their councils, the impact was immediately visible.
He lamented many local government chairmen have become spectators in the affairs of their councils unable to voice the concerns of their communities or implement projects that reflect local priorities.
Without singling out any state or administration, Elder Oyelese noted that while some states such as Jigawa and Lagos have already begun releasing allocations directly to the local councils in line with the Court’s judgment, others are still lagging behind.
“This is not about confrontation; it is about restoration. If we must renew hope, we must start from where people feel it most, their villages, their communities, their markets, and their schools. Mr President has demonstrated enough of political Will to convince Nigerians that if he really wants this done, he knows what to do and how to do it.” he said.
He emphasised that unless local government funds are allowed to flow directly to the communities, the economy at the grassroots will remain stunted, and no meaningful government impact can be felt.
Elder Oyelese reiterated his resolve to remain a mouthpiece for the grassroots, saying his advocacy is driven not by politics but by compassion for the people he once governed closely.
He appealed to President Tinubu to lead by example in ensuring the immediate and total enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment across the federation.
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