Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has been commended in his efforts to ensure financial autonomy for different arms of government in the country.
The commendation came Sunday in Abuja from the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) in a statement issued by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsijugave.
He said the President has done a lot to deepen democracy and strengthen democratic structures in the country in the last five years.
“This is more than what any administration had done since the return of democracy in 1999. The President’s actions in ensuring autonomy of other arms of government at sub-national levels are unprecedented.
“We invite Nigerians to note how President Buhari displayed a political will to free local government councils from the apron strings of state governments by simply ensuring that constitutional provisions on financial autonomy for the third tier of government are respected.
“Section 162 (6) and (8) of the 1999 Constitution on State Joint Local Government Account has, as far back as the Obasanjo years, been implemented in the breach. But this administration without much ado, simply enforced the provision through the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
“This has for about a year now drowned agitation for local government autonomy in the country and strengthened the Buhari administration’s hand enough to move for the autonomy of State Assemblies and Judiciary, through an Executive Order,” Akinsiju said.
