The Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, has expressed joy over the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the country’s 774 local governments. In a statement during the swearing-in ceremony of the 21 council chairmen in Yola on Monday, the governor revealed that his administration had implemented financial autonomy for local governments in the state five years ago.
Fintiri emphasized that the financial autonomy has eased the burden on governors and has made local governments more accountable. He urged the newly sworn-in chairmen to prioritize transparency and accountability in their leadership, stressing that the era of absenteeism is over.
The governor warned that with the financial autonomy, residents will be more demanding and expectant of their leaders’ presence and responsiveness. He cautioned the chairmen against corruption and urged them to shun corrupt tendencies, as they will be held accountable for every decision they make.
Fintiri also reminded the chairmen that their oath of office is both an opportunity and a burden, emphasizing that they have a chance to make a positive impact on the lives of their people by tackling the hardships imposed by harsh national policies. He urged them to use their resources wisely to improve the lives of their constituents.
In his remarks, the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Tahir Shehu, commended the Supreme Court judgment and urged the chairmen to stand by the provisions of the Constitution and discharge their duties without fear or favor. He assured them that the party would be available to provide assistance whenever needed.
With this new development, local government chairmen are expected to stand alone in defending how they spend their federal allocations, making them more accountable to their people.
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