From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja.
Ogun StateGovernor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has said his administration will support autonomy for local governments if they can be self-sustaining.
Amosun, who noted that he is interested in creating a self-sustaining environment said before he came into office, Ogun State was 29th in Internal Generating Revenue (IGR), while today, “the state is only second to Lagos in terms of what was collected from local governments and what the state generates.”
The governor disclosed this to Daily Sun, in Abuja, when he was guest to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), recently.
Amosun reiterated that, today, his state “has crossed the mark of 70 percent in the area of IGR,” while what it collects from the Federal Government as allocation is about 20 to 30 percent.
Amosun praised the federal government for bailout funds to states and monthly budget support which amounts to N1.1 billion.
“I am sure over 23 states would not have been able to pay salary, but, this administration has been supporting them. I want to make it clear to anyone who cares to listen that the era of monolithic economy is gone and the era of cheap money is also gone,” he said.
The governor added that the federal government is creating wealth for the people, boosting agriculture and creating conducive atmosphere for business to thrive in the process.
He, however, said local governments in Ogun have been a big burden to his administration.