The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, says the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the Local Government will revitalise governance at the grassroots.

It decries the decades-long refusal of state governments to allow financial autonomy for local governments in their respective states.

Mr. Babatunde Oladipo Okuneye, ACIS; Registrar/CEO, ICSAN, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS; Vice President, ICSAN, Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo, FCIS; President and Chairman of Council, Mr. Francis Olawale, FCIS; Honorary Treasurer, ICSAN, Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso, FCIS; Chairman, Publicity and Advocacy Committee, ICSAN, during the Presidential Press Parley commemorating the President’s one year in Office.

Its President/Council Chairman, Funmi Ekundayo reacting to the apex court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government councils, describes the decision of the court as courageous and transformative.

Ekundayo believes that the local government councils in the country, constitutionally, should have the freedom to manage their funds themselves.

She states that the autonomy will enable local governments to directly access and utilise their resources for the advancement of their communities, ensuring they are accountable to the local populace.

In her words, the practice of state governors withholding local governments funds had affected the performance of local government councils.

Ekundayo who is the first female President says the autonomy would facilitate projects execution according to peculiarities as local councils would have an easier focus on priority projects according to needs assessment.

The ICSAN President said this during the Presidential Press Parley commemorating her one year in Office in company of Vice President, Uto Ukpanah, Registrar/CEO, Babatunde Okuneye, Honorary Treasurer, Francis Olawale, Chairman, Publicity and Advocacy Committee, Nkechi Onyenso.

Ekundayo charged the Federal Government to come up with the right policies and regulations that will enable the digital economy to create new possibilities and economic opportunities for businesses and investors.

According to her, it has now become expedient for governments at all levels in Nigeria to formulate policies targeted at boosting the digital economy.

In her words, this would help to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem that supports the deployment of more technology and the creation of more jobs in the technology sector.

Ekundayo, a Lawyer, chartered secretary and administrator, believed that having sound regulations and policies on the digital economy across states and local governments would create new possibilities and economic opportunities for businesses and investors.

According to her, digitalisation of the economy will support the Government’s efforts to implement structural change in the Nigerian economy, reduce corruption and increase transparency among public sector employees.

On Minimum Wage, Ekundayo urged all parties in the ongoing negotiation to consider an amount that would reflect a good balance of economic realities, affordability, and sustainability.

She urged all parties to consider a wage that is within the financial capacity of both federal and state governments, that will help maintain economic stability, and prevent potential layoffs or cuts in essential services.

According to her, the labour should be more flexible, reconsider the government’s offerings, and be concerned about how private businesses can afford to pay the set wage without considering shutting down operations or cutting jobs.

In her words, a wage demand exceeding state governments’ capacity could lead to industrial actions, strikes, and widespread disruptions, further hindering economic recovery and growth.

The ICSAN President also enjoined all tiers of governments in the country, to show more seriousness about cutting down the cost of governance and be committed to investing more in layers of infrastructure that support productivity and revenue generation.