Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has hailed the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments as a welcome development and a relief to state governments.
However, he expressed concerns regarding its effective implementation and the capability of local governments to manage their financial responsibilities.
Governor Eno made the observations Monday evening while fielding questions from Government House correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, upon his return to the state from a foreign official engagement.
“Since I assumed office, I’ve not touched any funds allocated to the local governments. The only challenge I envisage now, which we have to sit down and find a way around is how the local government workers would be paid promptly? How will primary school teachers be paid promptly? How do we clear the backlog that we have? I pray that we find a way around this.”
He emphasized that the Supreme Court’s verdict on local government autonomy is final and must be upheld, noting that the judgment will not negatively impact the Akwa Ibom State Government.
He stressed that, under his administration and in previous years, local governments have received their due allocations without any interference with the operations of the joint account.
Governor Eno affirmed that his administration’s ARISE Agenda prioritizes rural development. He highlighted that the state government has allocated significant funds to settle arrears of gratuities, pensions, salaries, and other entitlements for local government workers. He acknowledged that the autonomy granted to local governments is a relief for the state government.
He called on the local governments, under the new arrangement, to take over the responsibility of prompt payment of salaries and other emoluments to teachers, health workers and other LG workers to avoid leaving unnecessary burden of arrears to successive governments.
He said, “The Supreme Court has made pronouncements. That’s the final court of the land, but for us in Akwa Ibom, honestly, I don’t see us having any issues. For me, this is a welcome development because I know how much we, as a state, support the local governments.
“Our ARISE Agenda is also cantered around developing the local government areas, so with this judgement, I feel relieved, but my concern is how they would bear the brunt of the autonomy.”
