Local Government Autonomy: Senate To Amend Constitution, Akpabio Confirms

Local Government Autonomy: Senate To Amend Constitution, Akpabio Confirms

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, said the Senate will tinker with the constitution to ensure that the Supreme Court Judgement on local government autonomy stands.

Akpabio stated this when he received members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, who were loyal to the erstwhile Interim National Secretary of the party, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in Uyo.

A statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio saying, “I thank President Bola Tinubu, for looking for a way to bring the all needed autonomy to the local governments through the intervention of the Supreme Court.

“The Senate, under my leadership, will tinker with the constitution to ensure that the judgment is fully implemented without any loopholes for manipulation by the practitioners.”

Speaking further, he said, ” the only thing that is permanent in life is change. Before my coming into the APC, the party never won even a councillorship seat in the state and when I came into the party in 2018, the then leaders of the party saw me as an enemy.

“During the 2019 elections, the APC worked against the APC. We had the best chance to have won the governorship and other elections in the state, but the then-leaders refused to see it from that angle.

“I joined the APC so that we would be linked to the centre and I thank God today that that dream finally came to pass in 2023. I am today the President of the Senate, through the grace of God Almighty, the support of President Bola Tinubu and my distinguished colleagues who elected me.

“God knew that I meant well for our people, so he elevated me to the position of the President of the Senate. When you raise people, your hands remain up and when you bring people down, your hands will also be down. So follow person wey know road.”