The Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has declared that he will never support local government autonomy, insisting that enhancing productivity at the grassroots level should take precedence over administrative independence.
Makinde made this known while speaking at the 2025 edition of the Oyo Youth Summit held at the University of Ibadan Conference Centre, Ibadan.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Youth Potential: Addressing Needs, Fulfilling Dreams,” brought together youths from across the state for discussions on governance, empowerment, and leadership.
In his keynote address, the governor emphasised the need for functional systems that deliver real value to citizens, rather than focusing on constitutional restructuring that may not guarantee performance.
He noted that autonomy without accountability or measurable impact could end up being counterproductive.
“I would rather support productivity than support federal government- local government autonomy.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment last year, ruled in favour of full constitutional recognition for local governments.
In the wake of the judgment, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) directed all local government councils nationwide to open dedicated accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure financial independence and transparency.
Despite these developments, Governor Makinde reiterated that his administration would continue to focus on efficiency, accountability, and impactful governance rather than what he described as “mere autonomy.”
