The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, inaugurated a committee, chaired by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osaze Uzi, for the implementation of local government autonomy in the State.

The governor, while inaugurating the committee at the Government House, in Benin City, listed areas of priority for the local governments to include salaries of workers, payment of pensioners and gratuity, traditional council staff, and primary healthcare.

Obaseki noted that the Commissioner for Justice will be assisted by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Monday Osaigbovo.

The governor noted, “As you are aware, the Supreme Court judgment ordering the separation and payment of funds due to local governments from the Federation Account to the local government account has implications. As a law-abiding State, we decided to implement this judgment.

“Consequence of implementing the judgement means that we have to work out the modalities on how the joint responsibilities which we used to take under JAAC will be carried out under this new dispensation. Hence, the need for the committee to work out the modality for implementation of the local government autonomy.”

Obaseki continued: “Because of the advances we have made in EdoBEST and the basic education system, how do we ensure and guarantee that the teachers do not suffer under this new arrangement of autonomy? First, teachers of basic education are continually employed, and their salaries guaranteed. The Primary Healthcare Agency Board set up by law demands that the state pays 40 percent of the salaries of healthcare workers and the local government pays 60 percent. It’s important that we agree on the modalities to enforce this.

“Also, the five percent due traditional leaders, we know the peculiarities, especially in Edo South. How will it be handled? The one percent trading fund for Local Government Service Commission we can see how that will be collected seamlessly. The traditional council staff under the pay of local government and how it will be dealt with.

“One of the areas to look at and work out a seamless arrangement is on the monthly payment of pension and also the arrears of pension obligations to retired workers from Local Governments service. We have been jointly financing the training of vigilante security personnel and also jointly financing the rollout of fiber optic connection connecting primary healthcare services to this fiber optic network. We need to look at this and how the health system will benefit.

“Time is of importance and your report should come in not later than the last day in September so that full implementation of the Committee will take place by the 1st of October 2024.”

On his part, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo on behalf of other members of the Committee pledged to deliver on the assigned role, noting, “Your arrangement has made it possible to pay salaries and pension and this is the modalities we want to adopt. The report of the committee will come at the stipulated time.”