The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking legal steps to save Local Governments in Nigeria from total collapse, describing the Supreme Court judgement of yesterday as a catalyst that would save Local Governments in Nigeria of lack of funds to perform their statutory functions.
In a Press Statement issued today jointly signed by the National Co-ordinator Mal Abdullahi Ibrahim and the National Secretary of the Group Dr. Nasir Balogun, the Group praised the Nation’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi – SAN, for his diligent prosecution of the case in the Supreme Court which gave the President victory on the matter.
It should be recalled that during the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Executive Order he signed for full LG Autonomy to work, was challenged by the Governors in the Supreme Court and the Governors won.
The Group said that that was why Nigerians must support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in getting the LGs to access their monthly allocations directly every month.
It however warned the LG Functionaries to henceforth be prepared to go jail if they betray the confidence the President and the people have in them by looting the Treasury; adding that ‘Eyes of the Anti-Graft Agencies’ would be on them to checkmate them on economic crimes.
On true democratic Local Government Elections – the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria believes that to put a stop to massive rigging of it, the States Independent Electoral Commissions [SIEC] must be scrapped without further delay as they have served ‘as the engine-room’ of massive rigging in all the States of the Federation….the Group stated.Unlike the States and National Assemblies that have members of various Political Parties, SIECs have colluded with certain States Functionaries to declare the ruling political parties in their States as winners of all LG Elections, MMWG maintained.
The Group therefore called on Members of the National Assembly [NASS) to expedite action on the Constitution Amendments process and give abolishment of SIECs accelerated consideration by totally scrapping them, pointing-out that LG Autonomy without true democratic LG Elections is of no value.MMWG maintained that only the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] can conduct fair and fair elections in the Local Governments of Nigeria.
MINIMUM WAGE SAGA:
On Minimum Wage problem facing the Country, the Group appealed to the Labour Unions to back-down on its demand for N250,000 pointing out that the Nation’s economy cannot bear it.
It urged the Unions to cooperate and quickly reach meaningful agreement with Federal Government, the State Governors and the Private Sectors on realistic and sustainable minimum wage for the Nation to progress.
It expressed serious concerns about the stance of some State Governors claiming inability to pay minimum was N62,000 monthly; pointing out that if wasteful spending of contracting payment of salaries to Consultants, over-inflated contracts, questionable monthly security votes and unnecessary projects that have no bearing to common-man are jettisoned, all States and Local Governments could pay the minimum wage successfully.
The Group called on the State Governors to fear God and warned on the implications of denying the masses of what they were promised; adding that they need to govern to attain Allah’s felicity not His wrath.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria described as heart-warming that with Local Government Full Autonomy, LGs could now pay their workers and generate their revenues efficiently and effectively as well as embark on meaningful and impactful projects for the benefit of rural masses.
The Group concluded its Press Statement by warning the State Governors not to reject whatever amount that is agreed upon as minimum wage as no State Union would negotiate afresh with them adding that their refusal to pay agreeable amount might exacerbate marginalisation of the people, increase poverty and suffering of the people that could lead to further increase insecurity and instability of the Nation.
The Group finally called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow some State Governors to ‘rock the boat’ of the Nation, rather he should compel them to do the needful for their people in their own interest.
