The Senate has announced it will wait for the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the contentious issue of local government autonomy before revisiting existing laws. This was stated by Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, during an interview in Abuja yesterday.
Adaramodu explained that the upper chamber of the National Assembly is currently constrained and cannot present an opinion until the Supreme Court delivers its ruling. He mentioned that there was a period in the nation’s history when local governments enjoyed considerable autonomy, but perspectives changed among those in power over time.
He highlighted concerns raised about the revenue allocation formula and issues of equity among other considerations. “We might not be able to say much about it (LG autonomy), but then, we are talking about distributing funds to local governments. There are indices that inform the distribution of funds to local governments. Equality, land mass, social indices,” Adaramodu stated.
He elaborated on the formula for distribution, noting, “So, when we talk about one of seven of the schools in Akure, that’s social indices. That is where they indicate how many hospitals. How many dispensaries? How many primary schools? How many junior secondary schools? Then population. So they distribute based on that. So, definitely there’s a local government that has only one primary school, and there’s another one that has 37 primary schools that are not going to get the same thing because of that formula. So just for education.”
Adaramodu concluded by reiterating that the Senate will not discuss the issue of local government autonomy further until the Supreme Court makes its ruling. “When the Supreme Court rules, then the National Assembly will know where to take it from, whatever the ruling is,” he said.
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