ALGON Chairman Defends Osun Local Government Budgets, Cites Supreme Court Ruling on Financial Autonomy

 

_...Says, the dividends of democracy will fully return to the grassroots_

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State, Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, has defended the recently presented local government budgets across the state, insisting that the process fully complies with constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government financial autonomy.

Speaking on a popular podcast LERO TEMI with Mukhtar Ajelogbon in Osogbo amid controversy over the budget presentation process, Abiodun who also doubles as Ifedayo local government Chairman dismissed claims that the budgets ought to be routed through the Osun State House of Assembly. He maintained that the Supreme Court has unequivocally affirmed local governments as the third tier of government, with powers to operate independently of both federal and state authorities.

“We did not breach any law. The Supreme Court has given clear guidelines and passed judgment affirming that local governments are a distinct tier of government, standing on their own just as the federal and state governments do,” he said.

According to him, the apex court’s verdict grants local government legislative arms the authority to handle budgetary matters without recourse to state assemblies.

“Some people argue that our budgets should pass through the State House of Assembly. However, the Supreme Court ruling has given local government parliaments total freedom to operate without such interference,” Abiodun explained.

The ALGON Chairman noted that the constitutional framework empowers local governments to manage their financial affairs through their elected councillors, who serve as the legislative arm at the council level.

“We have our own parliament, the councillors operating under laws established by the Constitution. Our budgets fall strictly within their authority,” he stated.

Abiodun further disclosed that the proposed budgets have been presented to all 30 local government councils in Osun State, where they are currently undergoing scrutiny and cross-checking by the respective councillors.

“We have taken the budgets to all 30 local governments. They are being examined by the councillors, and in due time, they will be passed,” he said.

He added that once the budgets are approved, the impact of governance would be felt more directly at the grassroots.

“After implementation, there is no doubt that the dividends of democracy will fully return to the grassroots for the people to enjoy,” he said.

Drawing comparisons with developments in other parts of the country, Abiodun noted that states such as Lagos, as well as several states in the North and East, have already adopted similar systems where local government budgets are approved by council legislatures rather than state houses of assembly.

“In Lagos and other states, local government budgets are no longer taken to the State House of Assembly. They are taken to the council parliament. This system has come to stay,” he added.

Describing the move as historic, Abiodun said it marks the first time local government parliaments in Osun State are being fully recognised and empowered in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy.

He concluded by stressing that budgetary matters are inherently financial and constitutionally fall within the jurisdiction of local governments.

“Once the councillors approve the budgets, they take effect immediately,” he said.