Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, has expressed strong reservations about the Federal Government’s recent actions regarding local government autonomy. He described the concept of local government autonomy as a “misnomer” and “aberration” in a federal system of government.
Fayemi argued that the Federal Government’s suit against state governors and the subsequent ruling in its favor would not address the country’s socio-economic and security challenges. He emphasized that Nigeria is a federation of the federal and state governments, as stated in Section 2 of the Nigerian Constitution.
The former governor contended that describing local governments as the third tier of government displays ignorance, as federalism principles dictate dual federation units. He cited examples from India, the US, Canada, and Australia, where states or provinces determine their local authority structures based on regional needs.
Fayemi warned that the Federal Government’s approach would not work and could lead to a unitary form of government, undermining federalism. He suggested addressing governance issues at the local level without compromising federalism principles.
