Immediate and nationwide financial autonomy for local governments is required by a ruling from Nigeria’s highest court. A seven-member panel reached the decision after hearing complaints about state governors’ mismanagement of local government funding for quite some time.
The Nation reports that Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney general and minister of justice of the federal government, has stressed the importance of the ruling, saying it is a major step towards removing excessive influence from local governments and guaranteeing their independence.
Fagbemi addressed the media after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, describing the verdict as a watershed event in Nigerian municipal governance. Fagbemi made the comment, “I call it local government emancipation judgement because it has really emancipated the local government from the shackles of the past,” meaning that local officials can now focus on community development.
As a result of the ruling by the Supreme Court, state governors can no longer withhold or spend money that is supposed to go to local governments. Additionally, it states that federal funds cannot be given to municipalities that do not have elected individuals in charge.
Fagbemi went on to explain that the judgement would be enforced immediately and warned that there would be penalties for anyone who does not comply. “The judgement is clear as to what they should do, the judgement is clear as to what consequences will attach to failure or refusal to follow the judgement of the Supreme Court… which takes immediate effect,” said the judge…. Discover _ More