The Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District of Bauchi State in the NASS, Sen Senator Shehu Umar Buba (Mujaddadin Bauchi) has hailed the Supreme Court judgement on financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Councils in the country.
The Senator in a statement he personally signed and made available to Journalists in Bauchi on Sunday stated that, “It is heart warming and highly commendable the judgement delivered recently by the Supreme Court of Nigeria granting financial autonomy to local government councils in the country.”
According to him, “For many reasons, this is really a welcome development and one which all lovers of democracy as well as proponents of impactful leadership and purposeful governance at the council level will find very pleasing.”
He added that, “As the Senator representing Bauchi South in the Senate and a known advocate for the granting of financial autonomy to local government councils being the third tier of government in the country, I believe the decision of the Supreme Court came at a right time when such judicial intervention especially by the apex Court in the land is desired towards affording local governments the opportunity to directly receive the allocations due to them for the smooth, proper and impactful leadership that is rooted in addressing the myriad of challenges facing our people thereby obviating the practice of joint account among other bottle necks that have been militating against proper administration of the local governments.”
“Having had the privilege of serving as the Chairman of my local government of Toro and as the current Senator representing Bauchi South in the Senate, I can imagine how this judgement will reshape the politics and governance in our senatorial district, Bauchi State and the country as a whole,” he added.
Shehu Buba Umar added that,”But as with every meaningful development or change, there is a lot more to do. Political actors and other stakeholders have to face the challenge squarely in order to ensure that the massive result which the judgement is expected to bring in the political leadership of our local councils and life of the electorates is achieved.”
He stressed that,”In particular, we look forward and are hopeful of inspiration, leadership and guidance from our party the APC in bracing for the task ahead. This is so as our people easily recall that upon return to democratic rule in 1999, elected council Chairmen like Hon. Hamidu Sa’idu Ghani of Bauchi L.G. (who was elected on the platform of an opposition party APP) is a good example of how creditably well local governments can perform if they are given free hand to operate particularly in the financial sense.”
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Furthermore, he stated that,”In the course of working together with fellow constituents, stakeholders and other players in seeing to it that the landmark judgement is given effect to in our area, I assure you all of my support, commitment and co-operation.”
“However, I shall not conclude this release without commending the President and Commander-in-Chief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the Attorney General of the Federation Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and others who took the steps that gave birth to the historic judgement which has not only deepened our jurisprudence in the area but it has also redefined the legal framework in this regard in such a manner that makes reaping dividends of democracy a high possibility at the local government level,” he added.
The Senator appealed,”Lets us therefore rise to be counted in Bauchi South.
May things work up to and beyond expectation in Bauchi State.”
He concluded saying, “And may this mark a great leap towards attainment of president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda for the overall betterment of our country.”
