Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has expressed his support for granting local government autonomy in Nigeria, a topic that has been the subject of much public debate.
Buni voiced his opinion shortly after voting in the local government election at his polling unit in Buni Gari.
“When I came on board in 2019, my concept was to give autonomy to the local government. Unfortunately, six out of the 17 local governments in Yobe State can’t even pay their salaries,” Buni said.
He explained that the rationale behind the joint account system, where the state and local governments work together on certain projects, was to address these financial shortfalls. “So, the wisdom behind this joint account, complementing the efforts of the local governments with the state working together in executing some projects, is an idea born out of these shortfalls,” he added.
Despite the challenges, the governor remains hopeful about the future of local government autonomy in the country. “Our democracy is growing, and this issue will be addressed seamlessly and democratically without hitches,” Buni said.
The movement to free local governments from the constraints of joint accounts has sparked varied opinions. While many see it as a positive step, others have reservations. This issue has even reached Nigeria’s Supreme Court, which has instructed states to file defenses before it makes a ruling on the matter.