President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday mentioned his administration is in no battle with state governors over the controversial native authorities autonomy.
Tinubu, nonetheless, known as for collaboration from the 36 state governors, highlighting their essential function in grassroots improvement.
“There have been gossips that we had disagreements on native authorities autonomy. No…No person needs to take them away from you, however we want collaboration,” the President mentioned when he acquired Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Discussion board, who paid him a New Yr homage at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos.
The governors on the New Yr go to had been Abba Yusuf (Kano), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) and Fortunate Aiyedatiwa (Ondo).
Others had been Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Monday Okpebholo (Edo); Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Usman Ododo (Kogi).
Tinubu’s Particular Adviser on Info and Technique, Bayo Onanuga, revealed the discussions in a press release he signed Wednesday titled, ‘President Tinubu to Governors: You’re an important hyperlink to Nigeria’s improvement and prosperity.’
In July 2024, the Supreme Courtroom delivered a landmark judgment affirming the fiscal autonomy of native governments nationwide.
The apex courtroom dominated that it’s unconstitutional for state governors to carry funds allotted for native authorities administrations.
Due to this fact, native governments should obtain direct allocations from the Federation Account, with out interference by state governments.
President Tinubu said {that a} basic problem to the nation’s development through the years had been ineffective native authorities administration, as governance on the crucial mobile stage of socio-political configuration is sort of absent.
Talking on Wednesday, he expressed his dedication to native authorities improvement and autonomy, stressing its significance for grassroots improvement and dispelled rumours of disagreement with the governors.
“We is not going to combat inside us. I’ll drive the change. You management your native governments. You possibly can restore hope by successfully fulfilling what the folks anticipate on the grassroots stage.
“There have been gossips that we had disagreements on native authorities autonomy. No. Simply drive improvement on the native authorities.
“No person needs to take them away from you, however we want collaboration. Let’s do it collectively and guarantee Nigeria is best off for it,” Tinubu defined.
He additionally emphasised the crucial function of state governors in driving Nigeria’s improvement and prosperity, saying their management on the subnational stage is central to attaining meals safety, financial prosperity and speedy nationwide progress.
The President expressed his gratitude for his or her help and collaboration whereas highlighting key areas requiring joint effort for the nation’s progress.
“You’re an important hyperlink to Nigeria’s prosperity and improvement. The Federal Authorities accounts for about 30 to 35 per cent of the allotted income; the remaining involves you. The agricultural worth chain will depend on you. You personal the land, and the job is in your arms,” he mentioned.
President Tinubu known as for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments to handle urgent challenges, together with native authorities autonomy, agricultural productiveness, and forex stability.
He urged governors to prioritise agricultural progress as a pathway to financial stability.
“We’ve to work more durable, develop extra, and make sure the scenario of our forex improves. Nigeria will see prosperity, however it requires constant effort from all of us,” he mentioned.
The President additionally urged the governors to take satisfaction of their efforts and acknowledged their progress throughout the states.
“There isn’t a state we can not go to and be pleased with its improvement. We’ve higher allocations now. Let me take the abuse; you are taking the privileges. Collectively, we’ll construct a nation we’re all pleased with,” he mentioned.
Reflecting on his management journey within the final 19 months, the President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capability to thrive given the resilience and management demonstrated by the administration.
“I’m glad I requested for this job, and Nigerians gave me the mandate. We’ll be on this voyage collectively. I thank all of you for the place we’re immediately and the place we’re heading,” he mentioned.
The President introduced that he might be visiting Enugu State on January 4 as a part of his deliberate visits to some states of the federation.
President Tinubu welcomed his declaration by ThisDay newspaper as Man Of The Yr.
He recommended the newspaper for recognising “what they thought of a failure initially, however is now successful.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Discussion board, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara State, described ThisDay’s choice to call President Tinubu Man of the Yr as a big endorsement of the administration’s insurance policies.
Abdulrazak famous that the acknowledgement from a media outlet recognized for crucial media protection in the course of the marketing campaign mirrored the tangible progress made beneath President Tinubu’s management.
“The insurance policies are working. In agriculture, I used to be in Jigawa. The grievance in Jigawa was that there was a bumper harvest, however due to the power of our forex, merchants exported the harvest.
“So, most of us are encouraging ourselves to purchase bumper shares into our silos, retailer them for the wet day. So, by way of agriculture, the coverage is working.
“We’ll proceed to deepen that and guarantee we’re 100% sustained in meals safety and feed the entire of West Africa,” he mentioned.
The governor urged the President to go to varied states to see the continuing transformations and progress firsthand.
He assured the President of the steadfast help of the governors, notably in contributing to native safety structure to additional improve the nation’s safety.
“I have to confess that I’ve not executed two years on this administration, however I’ve executed extra initiatives in two years than within the 4 years of my first time period”, Governor Abdulrazaq mentioned, including, “We’re getting extra funding as a result of restructuring of the economic system. Sure, there’s inflation, however we’re overriding it.”