One of the most contentious issues in the polity since the return of democracy has been whether local governments councils should have autonomy and not be at the mercy of the state governors who withold their allocations at will.
The conflict played out again this week in Katsina State where the governor, Aminu Masari instructed banks to freeze the accounts of all 34 local government areas in the state.
Masari gave the instruction during a closed door meeting with the bankers’ Forum.
The governor said his decision was as a result of some alleged fraudulent expenses by the local government administrations especially from the month of March 2015 till date, which he said they must account for.
The governor’s move has however drawn the ire of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State as well as the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
The PDP described Masari’s order as unconstitutional and an attempt to undermine democratic process.
In a statement by the PDP Publicity Secretary Salisu Sukuntuni, it was alleged that as a result of the governor’s order, the local councils have been unable to render essential services to their employees and constituents.
“The PDP strongly believes in the democratic culture and will not support any action that will jeopardise our cherished democracy. The state government must immediately take action to save the state councils,” he said.
Meanwhile, ALGON on Friday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to commercial banks operating in the state to unfreeze their accounts or face legal action.
The association chairman Ibrahim Dankaba said the action of the banks are illegal, unconstitutional and a flagrant abuse of bank-customer relationship.
“In the light of the above, we demand for an explanation failure of which within 24 hours I shall not hesitate to take legal action against you if you fail to reverse your action within then,” he wrote.
