A Chieftain of People’s Democratic Party in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state, Barrister Sampson Onyekwere has hailed the judgement of the supreme court on local government autonomy
This is even as Onyekwere lauded Ikwuano Local Government Area as one of the local governments that turned the fortunes of the council by effectively maximizing the autonomy the then Governor Orji Uzor Kalu ( 1999-2007) granted the 17 local government areas of Abia state
In a chat with newsmen in Umuahia on Monday , Onyekwere told reporters that Ikwuano Local Government Area owned a transportation company called Ikwuano mass transit during the tenure of Hon KC Ugbaja as Chairman.
“The mass transit “ he said “generated revenues for the local government and the then state Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu never interfered in the activities of the local governments
“The successor of Late Ugbaja, Hon Stanley Ojigbo inherited those investments in transportation sector for Ikwuano Local Government” he also said.
Further recalling the days of local government autonomy, Onyekwere said, “I remember how the then Chairman renovated the community schools and construction roads in the local government”
According to him, all those gains between 1999-2007 died because of lack of autonomy. So I am happy with the supreme court judgement as it it an excellent way of rejigging activities in the local councils
Reacting to criticisms against the judgement as a setback on principles of true federalism, the legal luminary said the judgement is a necessary clarification of the constitutional powers of the various tiers of government.
He argued that the judgment is in line with the constitutional provisions that establish the role of state governments in ensuring the effective administration of local governments.
He said the implications of the judgment depend on one’s interpretation of the Nigerian federal system and the role of local governments within it.
“When Local Governments are able to make decisions and take actions without needing approval from State Governments. When they are able to manage their finances, collect revenues, and allocate resources without state government interference, there would be massive, better development and better security ”, he said.
