“Supreme Court Verdict on LG Autonomy is a Distraction,” Says Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has labeled the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on financial autonomy for local government councils as a distraction from pressing issues such as the high cost of food.

In a landmark decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court mandated the Federal Government to disburse funds directly to local council accounts, declaring state governors’ control over these funds unconstitutional.

Governor Makinde, however, believes the focus should be on more urgent matters. “The judgment of the Supreme Court regarding local government autonomy and financial independence is, in my view, a distraction,” Makinde said in a video post on Friday. “We must face the real issues, and the primary issue is that we are not producing enough. We are not productive.”

He made these remarks during a visit from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by National President Chris Isiguzo, who had conferred on him the title of Grand Patron of the NUJ.

Makinde criticized the focus on fund allocation, arguing that the real problem lies in Nigeria’s productivity and self-sufficiency. “The issue of what is being shared in Abuja, and now with local governments, is not our main problem. Our real problem is productivity. The Supreme Court’s ruling will dominate discussions for the next month, while the issues of hunger and anger remain unaddressed.”

Expressing his disappointment with the current state of affairs, Makinde lamented the Federal Government’s plan to import food. “It’s a big shame that we cannot feed ourselves. We need to restore confidence in our people and ensure that this country is back on the path of growth and progress,” he concluded.