December 22, (THEWILL) — The Director of Finance, Hadejia Jamaare River Basin Development Authority(HJRBDA), Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s directives to Governors to implement the Financial Autonomy granted to Local Governments in their respective states.
Kwankwaso, in a statement distributed to newsmen in Kano on Monday, said that by his directives, the President loves Nigerians, especially those dwelling in the grassroots.
The two-term Chairman of Madobi Local Government said the President understood that by releasing to them their due grants, the local governments can function effectively, thus addressing the myriad of problems bedevilling the grassroots.
Such problems, he said, include poverty, unemployment and lack of infrastructure development.
“If Local Governments are getting their money directly, they can execute development projects at their level, which in earnest would empower their people. They can build hospitals, schools and even provide enough security to their respective communities”, he said.
The APC bigwig recalled that when he was Chairman of Madobi Local Government in Kano State, some 20 years ago, he was getting a monthly grant of N30 million, out of which he paid personnel salaries of N9 million and spent the rest to execute very viable projects.
He reminded the Governors that the Local Government Financial Autonomy was not warranted by the President, but that it was guaranteed by a judgement of the Supreme Court, which they should respect.
On the 2026 Budget recently presented to the National Assembly by the President, Kwankwaso said the country would soon witness good development across the states, in view of the quality of the estimates.
“Already one can see that projects such as roads, railways, housing and other projects which are ongoing”, citing examples of the Kano-Maradi Railway line, and the Kano-Abuja expressway.
On security, the APC stalwart commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for their robust coordination.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
