Stop Suffocating LG Administration, Tinubu Tells Governors
From Abdul SULE (ABUJA)
President Bola Tinubu has called on governors across the country to stop Suffocating
local government administration.
The President, who made call when Yoruba leaders of Thought led by Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi paid him a courtesy call in Abuja, said the people are looking at the opportunity to ensure that they survive and become more purposeful through community development programmes.
He said: "What I will not support is any effort to make the local government a unitary system by handing all core responsibilities to the federal government. That is criminal when there is a federal system.
"We have a federal system. There is state and federal administration. We have two components. States must do whatever is in the best interest of their own process of administration.
"There is no one-size-fits-all. That is what we should do by looking at the revenue formula, and we must be consistent with federalism; fiscal federalism. Those are the things you should expect from me, not the knee-jerk reactions ahead of elections.
"Our population is growing. It is getting larger. The geographical requirement is getting bigger, so we still want more space for housing. The population is growing. So that is the basis for flexibility at the local government level. We must grow and expand," the President said.
On the challenges along the country , President Tinubu said, "We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death, but rather will now move to prosperity. That is the promise that I made to you all, and it is also the charge that you gave to me.
"We are managing to swim through the pond. The current is not a good one. We will turn the tide. We are turning the bend. This I assure you. I am being very careful. The worst is over for Nigeria. We will prevail.
"I thank the team who have been working really hard. All I can promise is that we will do whatever it takes. We are determined, and we will work so that all Nigerians can feel the impact of good governance.
"We will get value for our money, and it is not for ourselves, but for our children. Our children will not inherit the burden of bad governance.
"Yet, they will enjoy the prosperity of Nigeria as a blessed nation from our very hands; from our sweat. We will bequeath to them a nation full of pride and prosperity"
"Healthcare upgrade is ongoing. Road rehabilitation and construction is ongoing. Education development is ongoing."
The President who also accused the governors of not taking their responsibilities seriously, said this has placed more burden in the federal government, urging the people to pay more attention to the state governors.
According to the President, once there's a synergy between the federal, state and local government, Nigeria will become the envy among the comity of nations.
