APC GOVERNORS REJECTS AUTONOMY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The governors of the All Progressive Congress, APC, at the end of their meeting
on August 14, 2013, Wednesday, rejected autonomy for Nigerian local governments.
This has been stated in a communiqué released by them after the five-hour meeting in Lafia,
Nasarawa state. The APC governors agreed with the the National Assembly's decision not to
include local government autonomy in the ongoing constitutional amendment.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State was the person who read the eight point communiqué.
The governors said autonomy for the local governments would undermine the fundamental
principle of federalism and push the country towards a unitary system.
Lafia meeting of the governors has also been named Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and was
attended by nine governors and one deputy governor.
The attendees are the host, Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Babatunde
Fashola of Lagos, and Abdullazez Yari of Zamfara. Others are Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Adams
Oshiomhole of Edo, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Kashim Shettima of Borno, and Abiola Ajimobi of
Oyo. The deputy governor of Imo, Eze Madumere, also attended while Yobe governor was not
represented but sent in apology.
"Recognizing the fact that federalism is the basis of our sovereignty, is a matter within the
purview of the federating unit and every attempt to legislate by the national assembly on aspect
of local government administration will tilt the country towards a unitary state. This will
undermine and weaken the fundamental principle of our federalism," the governors said.
In one of the points of the communiqué, the governors also recommended that the power to
amend the revenue allocation formula be removed from the presidency and given to the National
Assembly.
"In spite of recommendations made to the presidency, no effect has been given to the extant
proposal on the need to give more funds to the states and local governments because that is
where the citizens reside. The PGF further recommends that powers to alter the revenue
allocation formula currently with the presidency should be vested in the National assembly," they
said.
Finally, the communiqué praised the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) for
registering the APC in the overall interest of the nation.
The governors have expressed confidence in the interim leadership of the APC and in its
ongoing efforts to develop a healthy relationship among members.