PDP Governors Embrace Supreme Court’s Decision on Local Government Autonomy
Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed their support for the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding Local Government autonomy.
On July 11, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds intended for Local Government administrations. Additionally, the court prohibited governors from dissolving democratically elected Local Government councils, stating that such actions violate the 1999 Constitution.
A week following this landmark judgment, PDP governors voiced their acceptance of the ruling. However, they urged for careful implementation of the decision.
The governors’ stance was communicated during a meeting at the Enugu State Government House on Wednesday. According to a communique issued by Forum Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed, the PDP governors affirmed their commitment to supporting Local Government autonomy as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution.
“The Forum supports the autonomy of Local Governments as enshrined in the Constitution,” stated Governor Mohammed. “We believe in the effectiveness of the Local Government system, which ensures governance is closer to the people, as provided for in the Constitution. We hold the Supreme Court in high regard and are committed to following court orders.”
Governor Mohammed added, “However, the implementation of the court decision must be handled carefully to avoid creating mistrust between federal and sub-national governments and ensure the system remains functional.”
Minimum Wage Debate
The PDP governors also addressed the ongoing demands by labor unions for an increase in the national minimum wage. They agreed that the call for higher wages is justified given the current economic challenges. However, they stressed that any agreement must consider the financial capacity of all levels of government.
“While we fully support labor’s demands, any agreement must account for the ability of local, sub-national, and federal governments to pay,” the communique stated. “We urge restraint in actions and statements that could disrupt law and order or harm the economy.”
Ongoing Deliberations
Discussions continue between labor unions, government representatives, and the private sector regarding the new minimum wage. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) initially proposed N494,000 as the new minimum wage, citing inflation and economic hardship, while rejecting the federal government’s N60,000 offer.
On June 3, labor unions halted the nation’s economy to press their demands. By June 7, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) declared a N60,000 minimum wage unsustainable. The government then proposed N62,000, but labor unions countered with a reduced demand of N250,000.
Despite insisting on N250,000, the Federal Government has urged labor unions to consider a more realistic and sustainable wage. President Bola Tinubu has tasked the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, with presenting the financial implications of a new minimum wage.
