……Tasks Benue State Govt to dissolve appointed caretakers committees Immediately
The Coalition of Okpokwu Youth Groups (COYOG) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the bold step in ensuring the financial autonomy of Local Governments in Nigeria, and the Judiciary for proving once again, that they’re the hope of the common man by yesterday’s landmark judgement.
In a press statement isssued today in Abuja, by Comrade Omaga Elachi Daniel, the Executive Director of the Pro-democracy non-governmental organization, Beyond Boundaries Legacy Leadership Initiative-BBLLI, and the Convener of the Coalition of Okpokwu Youth Groups, organizers of Okpokwu Youth Summit and Okpokwu Peace Concert (#OyiDay), the group noted that this laudable judgement will further deepen the tenets of participatory democracy at the local governments, which for a long time, have been in bondage and neglect, except for constantly serving as a cash milking cows for State Governors, at the detriment of the common man, who holds the lower end of the political stick.
It should be recalled that in the last few months, calls for local government autonomy have increased in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu also supported the calls and in May, the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, sued the 36 state governors over alleged misconduct of local government funds.
Currently, the Federal Government gets 52.68%, and states get 26.72%. In comparison, LGs get 20.60% of the country’s monthly revenue allocated by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) which operates under the Presidency, and disbursed by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
Interestingly, LG funds are paid into a joint account operated by state governments and local governments in their domains.
In the suit filed by AGF, the Federal Government sought an order preventing the governors from arbitrarily dissolving democratically elected councils. The suit by the AGF was on 27 grounds.
The 36 state governors, who are defendants in the suit, opposed the AGF for instituting the case.
The Verdict
In his judgement, Justice Agim said the AGF has the right to institute the suit and protect the constitution.
The apex court consequently directed that Local Government allocations from the Federation Account should be paid directly to them henceforth, and not to state government coffers.
Justice Agim pointed out that the state governors’ retention of the monies meant for the Local Governments truncates the latter’s activities.
Justice Agim ordered the immediate compliance of the judgement, stating that no state government should be paid monies meant for Local Governments.
The group further commended the Nigerian Senate for empowering the President to take deliberate decisions as it concerns the emancipation of Local Governments from the claws of the very powerful Governors and especially Senator Suleiman Kawu, NNPP, Kano South and the Senate Minority Leader, Distinguished Senator Patrick Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South, for being the strong voices on this issue of autonomy at the red chamber.
While calling on the Benue State Governent and his counterparts to dissolve all undemocratically selected Caretaker Committees across the local governments, to pave way for democracy to thrive, via the conduct of elections at the local government level, the group appreciated the Benue State Governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia for promising to donate a transformer to Okpoga, the headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government, which has been out of power supply for about 3years, at his last ‘THANK YOU’ tour to Okpokwu.
The group noted that, the Okpoga and indeed, Okpokwu people, will be grateful to see the Governor fulfil his promise soonest, especially considering the massive support and trust he enjoys as a clergy.
Peoplesmind
