By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has revealed his ambivalence about the recent Supreme Court ruling that grants financial autonomy to local governments.
He said this while addressing Government House correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo.
Upon his return from an official trip abroad, Governor Eno expressed his support for the judgment, but also voiced concerns about its practical implementation, particularly regarding the financial management capabilities of local governments.
Although he stated that he has never meddled in the allocations of the State’s LGAs, he added that the problems the state may now face would be on ensuring that local government workers and primary school teachers are paid promptly.
“The only challenge I envisage now, which we have to sit down and find a way around is how the local government workers would be paid promptly? How will primary school teachers be paid promptly? How do we clear the backlog that we have? I pray that we find a way around this,” he said.
Governor Eno also acknowledged the finality of the Supreme Court’s decision on the financial autonomy, noting that it is a binding pronouncement from the highest court in the country.
While emphasizing his ARISE agenda, Eno said his government prioritizes rural development, highlighting its consistency with settling arrears of gratuities, pensions, salaries, and other entitlements for local government workers.
He further described the autonomy granted to local governments as a relief for the state government.
He urged local government Councils to take on the responsibility of ensuring prompt payment of salaries and emoluments to teachers, health workers, and other local government employees, thereby preventing the accumulation of arrears for future administrations.
