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| Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq |
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed his backing for complete autonomy of local government council areas.
He made clear Kwara State's stance amidst ongoing legal discussions concerning local government, maintaining that the state adheres to all legal autonomy requirements.
He stated: "I firmly believe that each local government ought to independently manage its resources and fulfill its duties, including salary payments which are a priority.
"I also hold that the state governor shouldn't be accountable if a local government fails to disburse salaries, as their funds remain untouched by us.
"Unlike the previous administration, our state does not share any joint project accounts with local governments," the Governor's statement read.
"These views are personal. However, they may not align with the legal framework, including the JAAC provisions established by the Constitution.
"Currently, local government funds are allocated to the JAAC, in compliance with the law. This is explicitly stated in Section 162 of the Constitution.
"At present, the operations of local governments in Kwara State do not conflict with these legal provisions. Our legal argument is not a reflection of my personal views but a defense of the constitution, which instituted JAAC based on our collective experiences.
"In essence, JAAC consolidates resources to remunerate teachers, healthcare workers, traditional leaders, and fulfill other listed obligations of local government areas. Should there be a national agreement to alter this, it would necessitate a constitutional amendment to remove JAAC," he concluded.
