Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has expressed his opposition to the idea of granting autonomy to local governments in Nigeria. According to Fayose, the concept of LG autonomy is unrealistic and unworkable.
Fayose argued that the financial dependence of local governments on state governments makes autonomy impossible. He also stated that the capacity of local governments to manage their own affairs is limited.
Speaking on Sunday’s edition of Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain highlighted the persistent influence of governors in the selection of local government chairmen.
According to Fayose, it is virtually impossible for anyone to become a local government chairman without the support of a governor. He likened the relationship to that of a mother and child, implying that the federal government and courts cannot sever this bond.
“I am not a lawyer, but I am a politician and an elder statesman by God’s grace. While I oppose any government seizing local government funds, the reality is that you cannot separate the local governments from the influence of governors. Anyone suggesting otherwise is wasting their time,” Fayose stated.
He further explained that state Houses of Assembly oversee and regulate the activities of local governments. During his tenure as governor, Fayose noted that while funds were received from Abuja, the local government commissioner—representing the governor—played a key role in managing these funds, alongside other local government officials and workers.
“The House of Assembly of every state monitors local government activities. When you say we are giving power to local governments, what power are you actually giving them? There’s no real power there,” he remarked.
Additionally, Fayose pointed out that many local government officials are not committed to their duties. He claimed that a significant portion of staff often neglects their work, particularly on certain days of the week.
“Any council chairman who believes they can disregard their governor will quickly be put in their place by the House of Assembly. You can’t even become a council chairman without the governor’s backing. The Assembly regulates all your activities,” he continued.
Fayose criticized the attendance and performance of local government staff, stating, “Visit a council meeting on a Wednesday or Friday, and you’ll find less than 10 percent of the staff present. They don’t come to work. I challenge anyone to dispute this. When you try to hold them accountable, both NULGE and local government leaders will plead with the governor, often threatening not to vote for him.”
He concluded by emphasizing that state administrations are more effective than local governments, which he described as being primarily focused on distributing funds rather than performing administrative duties.
