Birth of New Democratic Dispensation?:774 LGCs Defeat 36 State Governors at Historic Supreme Court Battle for Autonomy

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

In an historic judgement that may change the narratives of democracy in Nigeria, the Supreme Court has on Thursday declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for Local Government (LG) administrations.

The apex Court which gave this judgement on Thursday in its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, noted that the refusal of state government grant financial autonomy to local governments has gone on for over two decades in the country.

He further reveals that local governments has since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the state governors who act in their stead.

Justice Agim noted that all 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.

He dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the defendants being the 36 state governors.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija reports that 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. The suit by the AGF was on 27 grounds.

In his historic 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 allocation from the Federation Account should be paid directly to them henceforth.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija observes that the development tend to send some vibrations of renewed hope of the dawn of a new democratic dispensation to the spines of political analysts in the country many of whom have consistently condemned the current practice of state governors who usurp the Allocations of the Local Government Councils.

Many Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their joy and happiness with the court Judgement which granted Autonomy to the Local Government Councils, believed to be the arm of government that is closest to the people but hitherto rendered incapacitated by the actions of state governors.