Akakan Umoh
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, CCSON, has urged President Bola Tinubu administration to effectively implement the Supreme Court’s judgement on the financial autonomy granted local government councils in the interest of grassroots governance and development of the Nigerian State.
On July 11, 2024, the apex court gave a landmark judgment on the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments, yet uptil now the Joint State-Local Government account is still applicable in different states in the country.
CCSON also urged the Chairmen of the 774 Local Government Councils in the country to use their councils’ funds judiciously on people-oriented programmes and projects in their councils and be accountable to their people at the grassroots level.
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The National Coordinator of CCSON, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, while addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, however, hailed ‘‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the financial autonomy granted the 774 local government councils in Nigeria by the Supreme Court of Nigeria through the effort of his administration.’’
On the commencement of political activities and campaigns towards the 2027 general elections in many states in Nigeria, it condemned what it.
According to it, the act was not just premature but detrimental to effective governance in those states, urging the governors to focus more on the provision of dividends of democracy to the people.
CCSON urged those involved to halt further political campaigns until the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lifts ban on political activities and campaigns towards the 2027 general elections.
“CCSON frowns at the apparent commencement of political activities and campaigns towards the 2027 general elections in many States of the federation to the detriment of effective governance.
“CCSON advises overly futuristic political gladiators and their sponsors to place the overall interest of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and its people at heart,” it noted.
The Coalition also urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency dualise all federal highways in the South-South (Niger Delta) region, especially the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway, Port Harcourt-Eleme-Ikot Abasi Highway, and Ikot Ekpene-Aba-Umuahia Federal Highway.
Speaking on politics and governance in Akwa Ibom, the Coalition frowned at what it described as “ongoing sustained campaign of calumny against political leaders of the state, particularly the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno and his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.”
The group urged the people to come up with constructive and objective criticism of government and not to engage in social media attacks that would end up creating unnecessary tension and heating up the polity in Akwa Ibom State.
