The Arewa Think Tank (ATTK), a group from northern Nigeria, has expressed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to ensure financial autonomy for local governments during his administration.
President Tinubu recently criticized state governors for exerting excessive control over local government councils. Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the Chief Convener of ATTK, noted in a statement that issues of accountability and inefficiency hinder the growth of local council authorities. He emphasized that state governors must be held accountable for the lack of adequate development at the grassroots level.
Yakubu stated, “Arewa Think Tank is in line with President Tinubu for criticizing the governors who, during elections, rely on local governments to garner votes but, after the polls, focus solely on the state level.” He added that the group believes Tinubu is doing his best to enhance the country’s revenue base and stressed that governors must also be sympathetic and urgently consider the needs of local people.
The group expressed their support for the federal government’s suit against the 36 state governors before the Supreme Court, seeking the enforcement of full autonomy for local governments. Additionally, the group criticized what it described as deliberate efforts to undermine key figures in President Tinubu’s administration, starting with the Comptroller General of Customs.
