The implementation of the Supreme Court decision on Local Government must remove trust deficit between the Federal Government and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of their closed-door meeting at the Enugu State Government House on Wednesday.
The forum’s chairperson, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who read the communiqué to reporters in Enugu, said the governors have resolved to support the autonomy of the local governments in line with the ruling and the Nigerian constitution.
The forum also resolved to adopt a political solution to settle the ongoing crisis in Rivers State.
he chairperson said the forum was committed “to supporting the governor of rivers and also resolved that the issues can be done through a political solution that will be required and other measures and that all the leaders, organs of the party will be committed so that we can go together and resolve the issues.”
He said the forum called on Nigerians to refrain from anarchy as “we all match for the return of PDP to power in 2027.”
The governors expressed displeasure with the minimum wage negotiation between organised labour and the federal government had become “unduly protracted.”
They said workers’ unions’ demand for salary increments is “eminently justified” in the face of worsening economic hardship in the country.
“While the forum supports labour unions’ demand, agreement must take into consideration the ability to pay (the workers) by the sub-nationals, the federal government and the third tiers of government,” he said.
The governors described President Bola Tinubu’s economic performance as ‘dismal’, saying “the forum notes with dismay and grave concern the mismanagement of the economy by the APC-led federal government,” he said.
Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara States attended the meeting.
Others were Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and the host governor, Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
Other party leaders who attended the meeting include the chairperson of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara; the Acting National Chairperson of the party, represented by the Deputy National Chairperson, South, Taofeek Arapaja; former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, and former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu.
