……..SUGA backs Tinubu’s re-election
By Tolulope Eniola
Ondo State Govenor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared that the state is already practising full autonomy for local governments and the judiciary, despite pending constitutional and legislative formalities.
The governor made this known on Tuesday, at the Armed Forces Cenotaph Ground in Akure while addressing members of the Sunshine Grassroots Alliance (SUGA), who also declared their support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Aiyedatiwa explained that although the legal framework for full autonomy is yet to be completely finalised, the state has commenced practical implementation, particularly in the areas of financial independence for both local councils and the judiciary.
According to him, allocations meant for the 18 local government areas are no longer retained at the state level but are transferred directly to the councils for use in line with their approved budgets.
“Even though the law has not been fully perfected to grant absolute autonomy, we have been implementing it in practice. Once funds hit the joint allocation account, they are moved wholly to the local governments, which then deploy them based on their budgets”.
He added that local governments now prepare and operate their own budgets, subject only to formal approval, after which funds are released for independent utilisation.
On the judiciary, the governor stated that financial autonomy is equally in effect, noting that the arm of government now manages its resources without routine recourse to the executive.
“We have also granted autonomy to the judiciary. They operate based on their budget and their financial requests no longer come to me for approval, except in cases requiring special intervention for major projects”.
Governor Aiyedatiwa commended SUGA for its continued support, recalling the role played by grassroots workers, particularly members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), in his emergence during the 2024 governorship election.
He described the endorsement from the group as pivotal, noting that it contributed significantly to the record 366,781 votes recorded in the election.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, the governor expressed confidence that Ondo State would deliver at least one million votes for President Tinubu, citing the strength of grassroots mobilisation across the state.
He also lauded the Federal Government for ongoing infrastructural and economic interventions, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, the Ibadan–Ilesa–Akure–Benin road corridor and the dualisation of the Ore–Akure road.
The governor further highlighted increased federal allocations and the student loan scheme, attributing improved fiscal capacity at the state level to ongoing reforms.
Earlier, the Director-General of SUGA for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ondo State, Dr Deji Akinwalere, formally declared the group’s support for the President’s second-term bid.
He described the endorsement as a grassroots-driven initiative involving active and retired local government workers, teachers and pensioners with strong community networks.
Akinwalere said the group had passed a vote of confidence in the President, citing his reform agenda and commitment to strengthening federalism, particularly through support for local government autonomy.
He added that the alliance would deploy its structures across all local government areas of the state to mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
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