THE highest court ruled on July 11 that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds allocated for Local Government (LG) administrations and also prohibited them from dissolving democratically elected Local Government councils, stating that such actions would violate the 1999 Constitution.
A week after this significant decision, the PDP governors acknowledged and accepted the ruling of the apex court.
They, however, emphasized the need for careful implementation of the judgment.
According to a communique issued at the end of the meeting by its Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed, the PDP governors, affirmed their commitment to upholding the autonomy of Local Governments as provided in the Constitution of Nigeria.
They expressed support for the local government system which brings governance closer to the people, and declared their respect for the Supreme Court and willingness to adhere to court orders.
Furthermore, the governors stressed the importance of implementing the court’s decision in a manner that does not strain the relationship between the federal government and sub-national governments, while ensuring the integrity of the system.
Additionally, the opposition governors addressed the issue of the national minimum wage, recognizing the legitimacy of the demand for a salary increase by workers due to the challenging economic conditions in the country.
They requested for a practical and sustainable agreement on the new minimum wage considering the financial capabilities of all levels of government.
While negotiations are ongoing, the labour unions proposed N494,000 as the new minimum wage, citing economic hardships, while the state governors expressed concerns about the sustainability of a N60,000 minimum wage.
Despite the differing proposals and discussions, there were efforts to find a middle ground to prevent a breakdown of law and order and safeguard the economy.
President Bola Tinubu also directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to assess the financial implications of a new minimum wage, highlighting the importance of finding a realistic and viable solution that balances the needs of the workers with the financial capacities of the government entities.
