President Bola Tinubu has hailed the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, saying Nigerians, especially the poor, will be able to hold their local leaders to account.
The apex court had on Thursday declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for local governments.
The Supreme Court also barred governors from dissolving democratically elected local government councils, saying that doing so would amount to a breach of the 1999 Constitution. Shortly after the ruling, the President said an ineffective local government administration is a fundamental challenge to the nation’s advancement over the years.
“By virtue of this judgement, our people – especially the poor – will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions,” presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted Tinubu in a statement as saying.
“What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.
“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief and today’s judgement will ensure that it will be only those local officials elected by the people that will control the resources of the people.
“This judgement stands as a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and restructure our economy to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people.”
He said the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutional rights and ideals of local governments as regards financial autonomy, and other salient principles, is significant and further reinforces the effort to enhance Nigeria’s true federal fabric for the development of the entire nation.
President Tinubu also commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his diligence and patriotic effort, describing the cases as an important assignment.
The Commander-in-Chief reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting the principles of the charter governing citizens, institutions of government, arms, and tiers of government in furtherance of building an efficient and performance-driven governance system that works for every Nigerian.
There are 774 local government areas in the country but the efficiency of the third tier of government has been hampered by the weight of some controlling and overbearing governors who have been accused of mismanaging funds meant for the administration of local governments.
In the last few months, calls for local government autonomy have increased in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu also supported the calls. 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.
Peoplesmind
