Headline
BREAKING: Supreme Court Grants Financial Autonomy To Local Governments
BREAKING: Supreme Court Grants Financial Autonomy To Local Governments
The Supreme Court has ruled that governors of the 36 states in Nigeria are prohibited from holding onto or using funds designated for the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country.
The court deemed it both illegal and unconstitutional for governors to retain such funds, stating that this practice, ongoing for more than two decades, violates Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Emmanuel Agim delivered the lead judgement, emphasizing that no state House of Assembly has the authority to enact laws that interfere with LGA funds.
The court stressed that LGAs should be governed by democratically elected officials and ordered that funds meant for them must be disbursed directly from the federation account.
“Demands of justice require a progressive interpretation of the law. It is the position of this court that the federation can pay LGA allocations to the LGAs directly or pay them through the states.
“In this case, since paying them through states has not worked, justice of this case demands that LGA allocations from the federation account should henceforth be paid directly to the LGAs,” the apex court held.
Additionally, the Supreme Court declared the appointment of caretaker committees by governors to manage LGAs unconstitutional, emphasizing the necessity of democratic governance at the local government level.
This ruling came in response to a suit filed by the Federal Government aimed at ensuring financial autonomy for LGAs.
Despite preliminary objections from state governors challenging the suit’s validity, the court dismissed these objections.
-
Entertainment1 week ago
BREAKING: Paul Okoye Welcomes Child With New Wife Ivy
-
Entertainment5 days ago
BREAKING: Nollywood Director Dimeji Ajibola Passes On
-
Brands and Marketing1 week ago
UPDATED: Naira Rises To N1,730/$ In Parallel Market
-
Headline1 week ago
Man Utd Announce Ruben Amorim As New Head Coach
-
Headline6 days ago
Ghana Launches first 5G network, Plans To Become West Africa’s Digital Hub
-
Headline5 days ago
U-17 WWC: Flamingos Win FFP Award
-
Headline4 days ago
BREAKING: Equatorial Guinea Restricts WhatsApp Over Sex Scandal
-
Headline3 days ago
BREAKING: Chief Of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja Dies At 56
-
Entertainment5 days ago
Multiple Grammy Winner Quincy Jones Is Dead
-
Headline4 days ago
BREAKING: Nigeria In Darkness As National Grid Collapses Again