The Supreme Court has dealt a significant blow to state governors’ control over local government funds, ruling that the practice is unconstitutional. In a landmark judgment, the apex court ordered that all 774 local government areas in the country should henceforth receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account, without interference from state governors.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, had approached the court seeking full autonomy and direct fund allocation to local governments. The court, in its lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that state governors have no constitutional right to control local government funds.
Justice Agim noted that the refusal of state governments to grant financial autonomy to local governments has persisted for over two decades, resulting in local governments being deprived of their rightful funds. He emphasized that local governments should manage their funds themselves, and dismissed the preliminary objections of the defendants (state governors).
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a significant victory for local government autonomy and a boost to grassroots development. It is expected to have far-reaching implications for the country’s local government system, allowing councils to manage their resources effectively and provide better services to their communities.