Stakeholders in Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States said Thursday’s judgment of the Supreme Court on the autonomy of the 774 LGAs was a huge victory for democracy.
A cross-section of these elated critical stakeholders in the country’s LG system spoke in separate interviews in the three states.
Recall that the Apex Court had in a landmark judgment on Thursday, ordered the Federal Government to immediately start the direct payment of local government funds to their exclusive accounts.
In its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the court chided the decades-long refusal of the state governments to allow the financial autonomy for the 774 LGAs, hence ”suffocating them’.
Agim averred that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
Similarly, he held that only democratically-elected local government administrations were entitled to these funds and not mere appendages of the states in the name of ‘caretaker committees’h
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr Abbas Abbas, described the ruling as a victory for democracy.
He said, “This is a victory not only for NULGE and Nigerians, but a victory for democracy.
“You cannot have three tiers of government with one being subordinate to the other.”
Abbas opined that granting financial autonomy to the local governments would bring about more infrastructural development at the grass roots.
He added that the ruling has created additional checks and balances as the LG Chairmen would now be further emboldened to stand up to non- performing Governors.
A former NULGE President in Sokoto State, Alhaji Shehu Dange told NAN in Kaduna, “First we thank Almighty Allah for the Victory.
“I also appreciate the supreme court for doing what’s best for the country.
”I also congratulate Nigerians in the 774 L/G in Nigeria.I equally appreciate our leaders at the national level for standing firm throughout this struggle.
“May Almighty Allah bring lasting peace to our dear country.”
The President, Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Mr Rayyanu Turunku, said the supreme court’s decision was a welcome development.
Turunku said the decision of the supreme court was a good decision for all Nigerians not only for the union.
He said local government was the tier of government that was closer to the people particularly those in the rural areas.
Turunku said,”Every Nigerian has his origin from the local government from the top to the bottom.”
He said that some of the challenges the country was facing were due to the lack of autonomy of the local governments.
Turunku said,”With this development, a lot of these challenges will be reduced.”
In his view, Dr Abubakar Danja, Department of Public Administration, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, advocated an improved accountability mechanism to checkmate corruption, leakages and wastages at the local government level.
The don made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Zaria.
Danja suggested the establishment of a joint taskforce by the State and Federal Government towards ensuring that money sent to the LG coffers was judiciously utilised.
He added that the monthly allocations to the LGs should be adequately publicised to enable the citizens to ask relevant questions about it.
He said the joint task force, when established, should also adopt the ‘name-and-shame’ approach any LG Chairman found wanting.
The don, who was delighted over the verdict, expressed hope that the judgment may translate into a rapid development at the local government level.
He added that such development would bring access to adequate social amenities and public infrastructure from the local governments.
The don also hoped that the local governments would be able to manage the resources judiciously, devoid of wastages and corruption.
Danja added that the judgment was a welcome development on democracy and the federal system of governance in Nigeria.
He added that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has earmarked separate independent powers and areas of jurisdiction to Federal, state and local governments.
He added with dismay that the state Governors have hijacked the LGs allocations and they manage the money on behalf of the local government, thereby ‘endangering their performance.
“These led to agitations by so many organisations and stakeholders for the full LG autonomy in terms of finances, elections and other things.
“We are therefore happy with the Supreme Court judgment,’’ Danja said.
Corroborating, Malam Ibrahim Chawai, former Secretary, NULGE Sabon Gari LG said to an average Nigerian, the judgment means that more money would come to the grassroots level.
This, he said, would drastically reduce unemployment, poverty and insecurity.
“If the LG has money they can embark on projects which will be carried out by local contractors; these local contractors engage local skilled and unskilled laborers for the job,’’ Chawai said.
The Chairman, Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) Kano State chapter, Kabiru Inuwa, also hailed the landmark Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria.
Inuwa who said this while reacting to the judgment on Thursday in Kano, explained that the judgement would enhance development in the country.
The chairman also said that the judgment was a significant milestone in the quest for true democracy in the country.
According to him, the decision will bring development to the grassroots and bring the government closer to the people.
The labour leader added that the next step was to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to oversee the organisation of local government elections.
He said that the step would strengthen the integrity of the process by enhancing the transparency of leadership selection mechanisms at the grassroots level.
Inuwa called on all the stakeholders, including the federal and state governments, to embrace this decision and work collaboratively towards its implementation.
The chairman commended President Bola Tinubu, National Assembly the judiciary for the feat.
Various stakeholders in Katsina State also welcomed the judgment, describing it as a good omen for the LGs and the citizens in general.
Legislators, AGF throw weight behind LGs autonomy
Sen. Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, Alhaji Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, have applauded the Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to local governments in the country.
The legislators and the AG spoke when they visited President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Thursday in Abuja.
Akpabio said the request for local governments’ autonomy was placed before the courts by AGF because the Federal Government felt strongly about separation of powers and the need for autonomy for all arms of government.
“The Supreme Court has spoken and we have no option than to abide by the Supreme Court ruling.
“So, I will just call on all states of the federation to respect what the Supreme Court has done and then we will go back to the legislature to ensure full implementation.
“Because you know the words of the Supreme Court are like the words of the king, they cannot go without implementation,” said Akpabio.
He said the ruling was great for democracy, “and I congratulate the president for this initiative.
“I know that all Nigerians now know that local government administration is an arm of government meant for the grassroots and their money should be for the grassroots.
“Definitely, local governments can now undertake projects on their own. So, it’s a great day for democracy and is the beginning of great things to come.”
To the governors who seem not to conduct elections at local government level, Akpabio said that they should ensure impartial elections at the local government level so that all the political parties could participate.
“At the moment, there’s a lot of lethargy and nonchalant attitude by many political parties not in power at the state level; they hardly partake in local government elections because of they believe in bandwagon effect and all that.
“So, it is a great thing that the Supreme Court has done the needful, and now we have to go back and think, working with the AGF’s office and the parliament to see how we can ensure that there’s real election at the local government level.
“I think once that is done everybody will have confidence. It’s progress for democracy, and that is how it should be.
“So, we congratulate the justices of the Supreme Court and we in the parliament are determined to make sure there’s enforceability,” said Akpabio”.
Abbas was emphatic that history had been made with the Supreme Court judgment affirming the autonomy of local governments.
“This is an issue that has been before the parliament for the past two years; all the constitutional amendments so far carried by the National Assembly, one aspect has always been local government autonomy.
“Today everyone is happy and we are looking forward to local government that will work functionally, and that will be able to work on there own and extend goodwill to their own people undisturbed,” he said.
Fagbemi likened the Supreme Court judgment to the emancipation of local governments, which had freed them from the shackles of the past.
“I hope that local government officials will look at it as an opportunity to develop their various local governments.
“Part of it requires that states government’s conduct elections for local government areas.
He said the “ball is in the court of the governors but the judgement is clear as to what they should do.
“The judgement is clear as to what consequences will follow failure or refusal to follow the judgement of the Supreme Court which takes immediate effect.”
Supreme court judgment, respite for LG system in Anambra – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has described the Supreme Court judgment on remittance of Local Government Council allocation directly to the third tier of government as a “reprieve” for the local government system.
Chief Chigozie Igwe, Chairman of PDP in Anambra, reacted to the judgment in an interview on Thursday.
Igwe said it would address the refusal and reluctance of some state governments to conduct council elections.
He said it would take development and increased democratic participation at the grassroots when council elections were conducted as well as increase awareness among the people which would make them hold officials responsible.
“The judgement is a welcome development for democracy; we are happy for it because the ruling party has been doing all they could to kill the local government system in Anambra.
“Our problem in Nigeria lies with rural development and this cannot take place without the independence at the local government level through a duly elected administration.
“The ruling party in Anambra has been doing all they can to kill the local government system in Anambra but this judgement is a good starting point for it to come alive,” he said.
Igwe called on the Federal Government to ensure that the funds accruing to the councils were not trapped and unaccessed because of absence of elected council officials.
He called on the Anambra government to conduct elections at the local government council election and allow the people of the state to enjoy the benefits of the judgement.
“What this means is that money have been sent back to the people at the grassroots, so people should come down to that level and campaign, tell the people what they want to do for them.
“The judgement will not affect the rate at which people want to be governors; those who want to be governors will pursue their ambition because they have what it takes to be governors not because they want want to brag with allocations of Local Government,” he said.
LG autonomy will revitalise governance at grassroots – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NAN) says the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the Local Government will revitalise governance at the grassroots.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Reacting to the apex court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government councils, Ajaero described the decision of the court as “courageous and transformative”
“”The judgment is significant in restoring democratic principles and fostering national progress.. It is a crucial step towards revitalising grassroots governance, which has been stifled for too long.
“The supreme court through this landmark judgment has not only restored our democracy, but also peoples hope in democracy,” he said.
The labour leader commended the Attorney General of the Federation who went through the whole legal processes.
“We urge that all necessary measures be taken that this judgment is not sabotaged at the implementation stage,” he said.
NULGE lauds supreme court judgment on LG autonomy
The leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has commended the Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to the local governments.
Mr Hakeem Ambali, National President of NULGE gave the commendation in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The apex court in a landmark judgment had declared unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administration.
Ambali described the judgment as imperative for local development, adding that the ruling marked the realisation of a longstanding aspiration.
“We want to return all Glory to God Almighty. We commend President Bola Tinubu for offering courageous leadership in ensuring that this is achieved.
“We have always maintained that, if you do not fix thelLocal government system, you cannot fix Nigeria. We also thank the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) who went through the whole legal processes.
“We also commend the Justices who delivered this landmark judgment on behalf of the Nigerian people and we believe that the Nigerian masses will be better for it.
“Local government autonomy will reduce the problem of Nigeria by at least 50 per cent. It will reduce infrastructural gap, and improve community and food security.
“Local Governments will return us back to the good years of functional and well-run primary education and health care system, while security will be improved,” he said.
He also said that the local government would be able to recruit, train and retrain local security operatives to carry out intelligence gathering to fight crimes.
He added that vocational skills for women and youths will become the order of the day.
“To our governors, since the supreme court is the final court in the land, we trust them to obey the judgment.
” We appeal to the governors to see the judgment as a necessity towards national growth and development.
“We also warn the political class at the local government level to be transparency and accountable,” he said
Ambali said NULGE would partner with all anti-corruption agencies to track local government fund to ensure it is judiciously used for the good of the Nigerian people.
He also called on the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), to, henceforth, publish local government allocation monthly in order for the masses to be able to hold their political leaders accountable on how they disburse and apply local government funds.
“We hope this will reduce mass poverty in the land. It will also bring about political inclusiveness, it will stem insecurity in the land and lead to creation of jobs through vocational skills acquisition and empowerment at local government level.
“It will also lead to reduction of infrastructural gaps; rural roads will be opened, food security will be guaranteed and community GDP will be increased,” Ambali added.
Supreme Court judgment on LGs good for democracy – Soludo
Gov. Chukwuemeka Soludo of Amambra says the Supreme Court judgment affirming constitutional rights of local governments is good for democracy.
Soludo said this while addressing State House correspondents after a visit to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.
“Supreme Court is the final authority and, as a democrat, I believe in the rule of law. And once the Supreme Court has spoken, it has spoken.
“I haven’t seen the document, but we need resources to get down to the grassroots and we need the people’s money to work for them at all levels, whether at the federal, state or local government.
“We need to promote accountability. We need to promote transparency in the utilisation of public resources at all levels, to be able to lift the burden of the common man,” he said.
On the implication of the judgment for Anambra which has no elected local government officials, he said the state Independent Electoral Commission law had just been passed.
“The institutions to organise the election are being put together.
“It is a promise I made during my inauguration, and when I make a promise, I am serious about keeping it.
“But, even without elected local government officials, we’ve made sure that the resources of the local government get down to the local governments to address their needs.
“For my state, there has been a lingering litigation that stopped local government elections in the past, and that particular litigation is still on.
“So, we’re going to see how we handle all of that, and to organise a local government election as appropriate.
“I’m a believer in having a democratic system. Like I said, I made a firm commitment to that and I don’t say what I will not do.”
LG autonomy: Gbenga Daniel congratulates Tinubu, hails Supreme Court
Sen. Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the Supreme Court judgment which granted autonomy to local governments.
Daniel, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, also commended the apex court for the landmark judgment.
He said that Tinubu had, through the judgment, demonstrated an uncommon courage and leadership by returning Nigeria to the path of growth and development.
He said that the constitutional resolution of the apex court was long overdue, as local government administration was the closest to the grassroots.
The former Ogun governor said that local governments should have the capacity to directly impact on the lives of the people through the initiation of life-changing policies and programmes.
He said that the president and the supreme court have restored sanity to the Nigerian political space, adding that the judgment would allow for delivery of democracy dividends to the masses.
“As a democrat and a progressive one at that, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has demonstrated enormous capacity in the struggle towards strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy, with this local government financial autonomy.
“He has once again set to recalibrate the wheels of our political and economic growth in a way that it will make clear meaning to the average citizen.
“I salute Mr President for this global roadmap that will usher in true and practical development in our nation,” Daniel said.