Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has, against the backdrop of
the uproar generated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal’sdefection to the All Progressives Congress from
the Peoples
Democratic Party, said that it was the business of the judiciary and
not that of any order organ of government to interpret laws and legal
implication of political actions.
Similarly, Gov.Ahmed questioned the constitutionality of the unilateral reduction in the allocations to
states and local government councils by the federal government, adding
that it needed to be subjected to examination by the judiciary.
Ahmed made these observations during the swearing-in of members of the
reconstituted Kwara State Judicial Service Commission, stressing that,
“It is the business of the judiciary and not that of any other arm or organ of government to interpret laws
of the land and the legal implication of political action such as cross carpeting at
the National Assembly and indeed the Executive”.
He stressed that the unilateral reduction in the allocations due to
states from the federation account, allegedly due to fluctuations in
global oil prices and oil theft, were gradually impoverishing states
and local governments, adding that the development could have dire
consequences on the two tiers of government.
According to Gov Ahmed, “If this situation is not addressed
unequivocally and quickly, the next few months will prove even more
difficult for our state and indeed all others that are burdened by the
unsubstantiated cuts in the federation account allocation.
In the event that these cuts in allocation are politically motivated,
those behind it must be reminded that Kwara State is still part of
Nigeria and our people, who are bearing the brunt of these draconian
cuts are bonafide Nigerians”.
The Governor, however, assured the State Civil Servants that the
government would continue to explore all constitutional means to meet
obligations such as payment of salaries, even in the face of reduction
in the state’s entitlement from the federal accounts by the federal
government.
Dr Ahmed described the State judiciary as one imbued with integrity,
incorruptibility, commitment and resilience.
