The 33 local government chairmen in Oyo State have announced the formation of a new association.
This decision was made public through a communiqué issued at the conclusion of their meeting held in Ibadan on Saturday.
The communiqué, signed by Mr. Ibrahim Akintayo, the Public Relations Officer for the Oyo LG chairmen, detailed the collective agreement and resolutions arrived at during the meeting. Although the name of the new association remains undisclosed, the document did not clarify whether the Oyo LG chairmen would be withdrawing from the existing umbrella body, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
“At the general meeting of all the local government councils of Oyo State, held on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, in Ibadan, it was voluntarily agreed and resolved as follows: That to inter alia protect the interest of our people, we should forthwith form an umbrella association,” the communiqué read.
The newly proposed association aims to be formally registered under the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Its membership will be institutional, represented by the chairmen of the respective local government councils. The association is committed to upholding the democratic ideals of the local government system as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The communiqué further emphasized that the association would focus on ensuring the delivery of tangible development at the local government level, thereby serving the overall interest of the people. In a show of solidarity, the chairmen also expressed unwavering support for Governor Seyi Makinde, lauding his leadership and achievements since taking office.
This development follows closely on the heels of a landmark Supreme Court judgment affirming the autonomy of local governments. The apex court’s ruling, in a suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 states, mandated that allocations due to local governments should be sent directly to the councils from the Federation Allocation Account Committee. The court also ruled that state governments do not have the authority to manage federal allocations on behalf of local governments.
Governor Makinde, in response to the Supreme Court’s verdict, had expressed his displeasure and subsequently set up committees to review and address the implications of the judgment.
