LG Autonomy: Adekanmbi Challenges Alli to Show Senate Achievements
LG Autonomy: Adekanmbi Challenges Alli to Show Senate Achievements
The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has challenged his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Senator Sarafa Alli, to present his legislative achievements on local government autonomy since joining the Senate over three years ago.
Adekanmbi accused Alli of politicising the issue to secure votes, alleging that the senator had failed to sponsor any bill aimed at strengthening local government autonomy.
The APM candidate made the remarks while featuring on Fresh FM Ibadan’s Political Circuit programme, according to a statement issued by the Director of Communication and Spokesperson of the Oyo State APM Governorship Campaign Council, Yinka Oladoyinbo.
Adekanmbi argued that granting local government autonomy was not within the unilateral powers of state governors under the existing legal framework.
He said the 2024 Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy required constitutional and legislative measures, alongside executive implementation, to be fully realised.
The former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance also questioned Alli’s record as a former chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, alleging that the council performed poorly during the era of local government autonomy under military rule.
He argued that disparities in the financial capacities of urban and rural councils contributed to the introduction of the Joint Allocation Committee (JAAC) system, under which allocations are pooled and shared after certain deductions.
While acknowledging growing demands for greater financial independence for local governments, Adekanmbi said he would explore practical solutions to address the concerns of residents if elected governor.
He identified four key issues requiring attention: insufficient allocations to cover salaries and pensions, ensuring transparency and fiscal responsibility, preventing financial abuse by local government chairmen, and preparing councils for possible reductions in federal allocations.
The APM candidate pledged to ensure that residents had a say in how funds meant for their local governments were spent.
He challenged Alli to explain how he intended to achieve local government autonomy and account for his performance as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.
“I want to challenge my egbon, Barrister Sarafa Alli, to tell us how he will grant local government autonomy and how he performed while he was chairman of Ibadan North,” Adekanmbi said.
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