A former local government chairman in Kano State, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has supported President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering governors to release local government funds directly to councils.

Kwankwaso, who is now Director of Finance at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, described the move as timely and beneficial to ordinary Nigerians.

He said the President’s decision to use an executive order to stop governors from diverting council funds showed concern for the poor.

In a statement he personally signed on Monday in Kano, Kwankwaso said the directive would strengthen grassroots development.

“I really cherished the position taken by President Tinubu as a statesman, because the President truly means well for the masses of this country,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who served two terms as chairman of Madobi Local Government under former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, said Tinubu understands the challenges facing local councils.

“President Tinubu understands the problem of LGCs and the way to quickly solve it, which is indeed the local governments’ financial autonomy,” he said.

According to him, direct access to funds would allow councils to meet the real needs of their communities.

“If local governments are getting their money directly, they can execute projects at their levels which, in earnest, would empower their people. They can build hospitals, schools and even provide adequate security to their communities,” he said.

Kwankwaso also shared his experience as a council chairman about 20 years ago, noting that limited funds did not stop development at the time.

“When I was chairman of Madobi some 20 years ago, I was getting only N30 million monthly and with that money I paid salaries with N9 million while I spent the balance on the execution of projects that are still standing at the council,” he said.

He expressed concern that despite receiving over N1 billion monthly today, Madobi Local Government has little to show for it because the funds are controlled by the state government.

Kwankwaso added that proper financial autonomy would reduce the chances of mismanagement and improve accountability at the local level.

He also reminded governors that local government financial autonomy is not just a presidential order but a Supreme Court ruling, stressing that obeying it is a matter of respecting the law.