Governor Ahmadu Fintiri Argues Against Senate Interference in Local Projects

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has stated that the Federal Government and the National Assembly should not dictate how local governments manage their allocations.

In an interview on Channels TV’s Hard Copy program, Fintiri underscored the importance of local government financial autonomy and defended collaborative projects between state and local governments, as reported.

Fintiri contended that there is no need for external entities to interfere in the financial decisions made by local governments.

He questioned, “Who tells the Federal Government how to spend its money? Who dictates how the National Assembly utilizes its funding? If a local government decides to undertake a joint project and has budgeted for it, moving the funds into a consolidated account, what’s the issue with that?”In response to the Senate’s recent focus on local government autonomy, Fintiri accused the legislative body of concentrating on irrelevant matters.

“It seems the Senate is merely trying to create unnecessary tension to remain relevant during these challenging times instead of addressing real issues that affect ordinary citizens,” he remarked.

He pointed out that local governments in Adamawa have been enjoying autonomy since he assumed office and highlighted that the state government regularly publishes the monthly allocations to local governments.

Fintiri concluded by urging the Senate to prioritize critical matters such as electricity tariffs, taxes, and the oil subsidy.