Ahmadu Finitri Urges Senate to Focus on Their Duties and Address Common People’s Concerns

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has asserted that neither the Federal Government nor the National Assembly has the right to dictate how local governments should manage their funds.

During an interview on Channels TV’s Hard Copy program, Fintiri explained that there is nothing wrong with states and local governments pooling their funds into a consolidated account for joint projects.

He questioned the financial oversight imposed by the Federal Government and the National Assembly, asking, “Who dictates how the Federal Government spends its funds? Who oversees the National Assembly’s expenditure? If local governments choose to collaborate on a project and allocate funds into a consolidated account, what’s the issue with that?”In response to concerns recently raised by the Senate, Fintiri criticized the Senate for stirring unnecessary tension, suggesting they were trying to stay relevant in the face of national hardship instead of focusing on issues that directly impact ordinary citizens.

He urged the Senate to prioritize critical concerns like electricity tariffs, new taxes, and oil subsidies rather than revisiting the issue of local government autonomy, which has already been addressed by the Supreme Court.

Fintiri also highlighted that local governments in Adamawa State have enjoyed greater autonomy since his administration began, noting that he has been open about the funds allocated to these local governments each month.