Dikko Radda, the Katsina State governor, has instructed the state’s Attorney General to provide a comprehensive report on the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s judgement regarding local government autonomy.
News About Nigeria reports that the governor’s directive is to ensure that Katsina State is fully aware of the legal ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, Governor Radda’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, revealed that the governor has already initiated this process.
According to the statement, local governments in Katsina State currently enjoy a significant level of autonomy, and the state government is committed to upholding the constitution.
Governor Radda assured that Katsina State is a law-abiding state and will continue to operate in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Governor’s commitment to upholding the constitution and ensuring local government autonomy is a positive step towards promoting good governance and democracy in Katsina State.
He said, “I did not call you all today to interpret the judgement. Katsina State is a law-abiding state and will operate under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have asked the state Attorney General to give me a full report on the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s decision.”
“As you know, I was once the chairman of Charanchi Local Government during the administration of our beloved President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. I was involved in the day-to-day administration of my local government, and I am fully aware of the challenges and pains most of you are facing.
He acknowledged the potential challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the state’s preparedness: “We are facing various socio-economic challenges coupled with insecurity in our frontline local governments. When I took office in 2023, over 20 local governments were ravaged by insecurity. Our concerted efforts have reduced insecurity to the fringes of the frontline local governments.”
While highlighting his administration’s forward-thinking approach to local government administration, Radda noted that the state plans to conduct elections for new local government chairmen at the expiration of the tenure of incumbent chairmen.
“We have already carried out party primaries in line with electoral best practices, and some current chairmen will return through a democratic process. In this dispensation, we are most likely the only state to transition from one democratically elected local government council to another,” he said.
