LG autonomy’ll lead to anarchy – Amosun

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has cautioned the school of thought clamouring for local government autonomy in the country, saying that the proposal if allowed to scale through will take the country back to slavery.

Amosun who stated this yesterday in Abeokuta during an interactive session with local government workers in the state noted that the local government will become an endangered species in case of dwindling allocation from the federation account which the country presently finds itself.

Amosun who promised to comply with whatever is the outcome of the debate at the national assembly on the local government autonomy said it will still be better for the third tier of government to be under the state.

He said the situation where the local government would have to wait for the federal government allocation or received reduced fund will bring about anarchy and chaos in the communities, pointing out that Ogun State government have to augment federal allocation to the local governments in the state with up to 600 million on monthly basis before salaries are paid in the local councils.

“Every month in Ogun State, we give them (local governments) money, and if we don’t give them between 300 – 600 million, they can’t pay salary and if you now say they should be waiting for salaries from Abuja, it will bring anarchy.

“All of our colleagues are aware of what I am saying, imagine if I have to wait for money from Abuja and local government will also have to wait, who will do the augmentation that we are doing. There’s is no month we don’t give money depending on the amount from Abuja.

“Now the Chairmen said they needed 620 million to pay salary, otherwise, they can’t pay and I am still running around to pay the state and also the local government,” he said.

Amosun, however advised those pushing for the autonomy to weigh the options and have a rethink on the move.