By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Ado-Ekiti — Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose has thrown his weight behind the agitation for local government autonomy, saying; he will continue to support whatever that will bring development and good governance.

Fayose

Governor Fayose, who said the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, was also right in its agitation for democratisation of the local government administration in the country, added that the persistent use of caretaker committee to run the affairs of local councils in the country was against the words and letters of Section 7 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

In a statement issued yesterday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said: “Within the ambit of our laws, we have ensure that Local governments in Ekiti State operate without undue interference from the State government and I believe that relevant constitutional amendments that are necessary to ensure autonomy for the local government should be done without further delay.”

“As for me, I have washed my hands completely from the running of local councils, except as permitted by our laws.”

On the conduct of local government elections, Governor Fayose said; “Anything other than duly elected chairmen and councillors running the affairs of the local councils is not acceptable and should be discouraged.’’