OYO STATE Government, on Monday, constituted two separate committees on the July 11 Supreme Court judgment which granted autonomy to local governments.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Ademola Ojo, made this known shortly after an emergency meeting between Gov. Seyi Makinde and relevant stakeholders in Ibadan.
Ojo said that the meeting, which involved local government chairmen, members of the Pension Board and other relevant stakeholders, deliberated on the outcome of the judgment.
He said that the two committees – Technical and Legal – were set up to work out the possible implementation of the judgment in the overall interest of the people of the state.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Abiodun Aikomo, also said that the judgment also directed allocations to be paid to the local governments directly.
“Hitherto, the position was that allocations were paid into the joint account created and maintained by the state government for onward passage to the local governments.
“The implication is that there had been a status quo which had been followed under the constitution.
“Now the Supreme Court has given a new decision which will affect the way things are being done.
“As a responsible government, Gov Makinde has invited the relevant stakeholders to discuss the actual implementation, and two committees have been set up to look at how we can translate the reality of today to actual development.
“How do we ensure there’s no gap in the management and administration of local government? How do we ensure that the welfare and the development of the people are not destroyed by whatever happens?
“So, the two committees will look at these and they were given four to six weeks to do the job and report back,” he said.
Aikomo reiterated the Makinde-led administration’s commitment to the welfare and development of the people of the state. (NAN)
