Rt. Hon. Abiodun Mohammed Fadeyi, Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and representative of Ona-Ara State Constituency, has declared that the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government (LG) autonomy cannot be implemented without amending the Nigerian Constitution. In an exclusive interview with Tinubu Newspaper, Fadeyi discussed the state of Nigeria’s legislative arm, the challenges of LG autonomy, and his contributions to his constituency, emphasizing the need for sincerity in addressing governance issues.
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Reflecting on the legislative arm’s role since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Fadeyi acknowledged its contributions despite challenges. “The military incursion affected democratic rule, but since 1999, it’s been a smooth sail, so to say,” he said. He admitted that Nigeria’s 26-year democracy is still evolving compared to older democracies like the United States, where legislators often serve multiple terms, enhancing expertise. “We have not done too bad, but there is room for improvement,” Fadeyi noted, highlighting the high turnover rate of legislators as a key issue.
Fadeyi explained that frequent turnover hinders legislators’ ability to master the technicalities of lawmaking. “It takes two to three years for a new legislator to understand the legislative process, and then another election cycle begins,” he said. He cited Lagos State, where long-serving legislators produce higher-quality legislation, and noted that Oyo’s Speaker, in his third term, exemplifies the benefits of experience. On zoning politics, which limits re-elections, Fadeyi expressed optimism that Nigeria’s democracy would eventually mature beyond such practices.
Fadeyi refuted the notion that the legislature is a “conduit pipe” for siphoning funds, urging Nigerians to deepen their understanding of governance. He emphasized the legislature’s critical role in approving budgets and enabling executive projects, citing the Supreme Court’s directive in Rivers State for the governor to present his budget to the state assembly. “The executive cannot spend without legislative approval,” he said. In Oyo, the House recently reviewed laws like the Amotekun security outfit, demonstrating its oversight function. “Our people need to understand the workings of the legislature,” Fadeyi added.
Dismissing claims that the Oyo State House of Assembly merely approves the governor’s requests, Fadeyi argued that legislators prioritize their constituents’ interests. He cited a dual-carriageway project in his Ona-Ara constituency, initiated by Governor Seyi Makinde despite being a federal road. “If the governor brings a loan request for such infrastructure, will I turn it down? Definitely not,” he said. Fadeyi highlighted Oyo’s status as the third-highest contributor to the federation’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), attributing this to a conducive business environment fostered by legislative-backed infrastructure projects.
On the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, Fadeyi argued that implementation is stalled due to constitutional constraints. “Without amending Section 162(3) to scrap the joint account committee, that judgment will remain unimplementable,” he said. He accused the APC-led federal government of politicizing the issue, noting that Oyo State formed a committee, which he joined, to study the judgment. However, he stressed that the federal government’s lack of action has hindered progress. “Oyo is ready to implement, but the federal government is not. Who is deceiving who?” Fadeyi questioned, calling for a sincere dialogue between the president and state governors to resolve the issue.
Fadeyi also noted that constitutional amendments require approval from two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, underscoring the need for a collaborative process. “Everything is not about politics. There’s nothing wrong with LG autonomy, but there are processes,” he said.
As a second-term lawmaker, Fadeyi highlighted his efforts to improve Ona-Ara. He plans to move a motion addressing a recently collapsed bridge in his constituency and has sponsored a bill to eradicate open defecation, leading to UNICEF-supported projects providing toilets and boreholes. His office has secured over 300 jobs for constituents, and he is overseeing the construction of a classroom block and borehole repairs. “My priority is employment for my people, both in government and private sectors,” Fadeyi said, emphasizing his commitment to community engagement.
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