Katsina Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has said his administration was prepared to comply with the full implication of the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for the local councils in the country.
The Governor made the declaration during the week when he convened a meeting of stakeholders .
The apex court had in an unanimous judgment upheld the suit brought by the federal government to strengthen the independence of local governments in the country.
Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the court’s lead judgement, held that the local governments across the country should, henceforth, receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The apex court ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to receive and withhold funds allocated to local government areas (LGAs) in their states.
Governor Radda at the meeting, disclosed that before the apex court pronouncement, local governments in Katsina State already enjoy a significant level of autonomy, reaffirming the state’s commitment to upholding the constitution.
“I did not call you all today to interpret the judgment. Katsina State is a law-abiding state and will operate under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have asked the state attorney general to give me a
full report on the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s decision..
Governor Radda who recalled his stewardship as a local government chairmen said he was fully aware of the enormous challenges facing any administrator at the local council.
“As you know, I was once the chairman of Charanchi Local Government during the administration of our beloved President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. I was involved in the day-to-day administration of my local government, and I am fully aware of the challenges and pains most of you are facing.”
He acknowledged the potential challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the state’s preparedness: “We are facing various socioeconomic challenges coupled with insecurity in our frontline local governments. When I took office in 2023, over 20 local governments were ravaged by insecurity. Our concerted efforts have reduced insecurity to the fringes of the frontline local governments.”
While highlighting his administration’s forward-thinking approach to local government administration, Governor Radda noted that the state plan to conduct elections for new local government chairmen at the expiration of tenure of incumbent chairmen. To that effect he said, “We have already carried out party primaries in line with electoral best practices, and some current chairmen will return through a democratic process,
Insha Allah. In this dispensation, we are most likely the only state to transition from one democratically elected local government council to another.”
The Katsina Governor further pinpointed the state’s Community Development Programme, designed to empower local governments by involving communities in identifying and prioritising their needs.
Governor Radda stressed the importance of collaborative governance and the role of the Community Development Programme (CDP): “My message was that if we allow communities to tell us what they need and when, it will make governance more efficient and effective.”
“This programme will need your full support and cooperation now more than ever.”
The Katsina State Governor who maintained his stance to defer to pronouncement of the Supreme Court however restated the financial strain amidst competing needs of the North West state.
“Between June 2023 and June 2024, the federal allocation to local governments in Katsina was about 130.1 billion. 66 billion was spent on salaries, 10.1 billion on pensions and gratuities, 12.13 billion on security, 376.6 million on security requests from some local governments, and 4 billion on direct running costs to local government councils.
“We must use the coming weeks to review all our existing laws and begin to work on new laws that will harmonise our developmental objectives.
“I have set up a committee comprising of state, local government, and state assembly representatives along with other experts to formulate a way forward.”
He disclosed further; “15.1 billion naira was provided for various projects carried out by the local governments, 360 million for school instructional materials, 1.58 billion for foreign and local scholarships, and 939.8 million towards Hajj.
“The local governments expended 6.14 billion on food palliatives, with an additional 3.1 billion in palliative care and salah package paid directly to local government and LGEA workers. 3.84 billion was used towards purchasing fertilisers and 1.19 billion on agrochemicals. This is not exhaustive but represents monies sent directly to local governments. Joint decision-making is an inseparable part of policy implementation. This is not exhaustive but represents monies sent directly to local governments.”
Katsina Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has said his administration was prepared to comply with the full implication of the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for the local councils in the country.
The Governor made the declaration during the week when he convened a meeting of stakeholders .
The apex court had in an unanimous judgment upheld the suit brought by the federal government to strengthen the independence of local governments in the country.
Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the court’s lead judgement, held that the local governments across the country should, henceforth, receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The apex court ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to receive and withhold funds allocated to local government areas (LGAs) in their states.
Governor Radda at the meeting, disclosed that before the apex court pronouncement, local governments in Katsina State already enjoy a significant level of autonomy, reaffirming the state’s commitment to upholding the constitution.
“I did not call you all today to interpret the judgment. Katsina State is a law-abiding state and will operate under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have asked the state attorney general to give me a
full report on the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s decision..
Governor Radda who recalled his stewardship as a local government chairmen said he was fully aware of the enormous challenges facing any administrator at the local council.
“As you know, I was once the chairman of Charanchi Local Government during the administration of our beloved President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. I was involved in the day-to-day administration of my local government, and I am fully aware of the challenges and pains most of you are facing.”
He acknowledged the potential challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the state’s preparedness: “We are facing various socioeconomic challenges coupled with insecurity in our frontline local governments. When I took office in 2023, over 20 local governments were ravaged by insecurity. Our concerted efforts have reduced insecurity to the fringes of the frontline local governments.”
While highlighting his administration’s forward-thinking approach to local government administration, Governor Radda noted that the state plan to conduct elections for new local government chairmen at the expiration of tenure of incumbent chairmen. To that effect he said, “We have already carried out party primaries in line with electoral best practices, and some current chairmen will return through a democratic process,
Insha Allah. In this dispensation, we are most likely the only state to transition from one democratically elected local government council to another.”
The Katsina Governor further pinpointed the state’s Community Development Programme, designed to empower local governments by involving communities in identifying and prioritising their needs.
Governor Radda stressed the importance of collaborative governance and the role of the Community Development Programme (CDP): “My message was that if we allow communities to tell us what they need and when, it will make governance more efficient and effective.”
“This programme will need your full support and cooperation now more than ever.”
The Katsina State Governor who maintained his stance to defer to pronouncement of the Supreme Court however restated the financial strain amidst competing needs of the North West state.
“Between June 2023 and June 2024, the federal allocation to local governments in Katsina was about 130.1 billion. 66 billion was spent on salaries, 10.1 billion on pensions and gratuities, 12.13 billion on security, 376.6 million on security requests from some local governments, and 4 billion on direct running costs to local government councils.
“We must use the coming weeks to review all our existing laws and begin to work on new laws that will harmonise our developmental objectives.
“I have set up a committee comprising of state, local government, and state assembly representatives along with other experts to formulate a way forward.”
He disclosed further; “15.1 billion naira was provided for various projects carried out by the local governments, 360 million for school instructional materials, 1.58 billion for foreign and local scholarships, and 939.8 million towards Hajj.
“The local governments expended 6.14 billion on food palliatives, with an additional 3.1 billion in palliative care and salah package paid directly to local government and LGEA workers. 3.84 billion was used towards purchasing fertilisers and 1.19 billion on agrochemicals. This is not exhaustive but represents monies sent directly to local governments. Joint decision-making is an inseparable part of policy implementation. This is not exhaustive but represents monies sent directly to local governments.”