Thursday, July 11, 2024 - The Supreme Court has declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for Local Government (LG) administrations.
In a lead judgement read by Justice
Emmanuel Agim held that the apex court observed that the refusal of the state
government on financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two
decades.
The apex court held that local
governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the
state governors who act in their stead. Justice Agim noted that the 774 local
government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
He dismissed the preliminary
objections of the defendants (state governors).
In the suit filed by the
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, the Federal
Government sought an order preventing the governors from arbitrarily dissolving
democratically elected councils.
Justice Agim said the AGF has the
right to institute the suit and protect the constitution.
The apex court consequently directed
that Local Government allocation from the Federation Account should be paid
directly to them henceforth.
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