The Supreme Court has issued a directive mandating that state governors must cease any interference with the funds allocated to the 774 local government areas across the country. This ruling asserts that the state control of local government funds is unconstitutional.
In the lawsuit, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, sought to secure full autonomy and direct fund allocation for the nation’s 774 local governments. Fagbemi called upon the Supreme Court to enforce sections 1, 4, 5, 7, and 14 of the constitution, arguing that governors and state houses of assembly are obligated to ensure a democratically elected system at the local government level.
Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Emmanuel Agim stated that state governors are not permitted to withhold funds intended for local government administrations. He highlighted that the denial of financial autonomy for local governments by state governments has persisted for over two decades.
Justice Agim further explained that local governments have long been deprived of the funds due to them, with state governors appropriating these resources instead. Emphasizing the need for local governments to manage their finances independently, he dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the defendants, the state governors.
He affirmed that the Attorney General of the Federation has the right to initiate the lawsuit to uphold the constitution. Consequently, the Supreme Court decreed that allocations from the Federation Account to local governments must henceforth be paid directly to them.
Source: Daily post
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