Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has hailed the Supreme Court Judgment granting Financial Autonomy to Local Government Areas and expressed concerns over its effective implementation.
Pastor Umo Eno made the observations yesterday while fielding questions from Government House Correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, upon his return to the State from a foreign official engagement.
The Governor, who described the judgment as a welcome development and relief to State Governments, examined the ability of Local Government Councils to handle their financial responsibilities.
He urged Local Governments, under the new arrangement, to take over the responsibility of prompt payment of salaries and other emoluments to teachers, health workers, and other Local Government workers to avoid leaving unnecessary burden of arrears to successive governments.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero has commended the Supreme Court of Nigeria for mandating that Local Government Allocations be paid directly to their accounts and not through state governments.
Comrade Joe Ajaero gave the commendation while briefing Newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital after flagging off the 20th Edition of NLC Rain School noting that the declaration will make Local Government Councils less reliant on their respective State Governments.
On her part, Akwa Ibom State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Anestina Iweh said mechanisms are being put in place to monitor the disbursement and utilization of local government funds.
