In a decision that supports local government sovereignty, the Supreme Court upheld the federal government’s case against the governors of the 36 states.Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, filed the lawsuit in an attempt to grant all 774 local governments in the nation complete autonomy and direct funding distribution.
Justice Fagbemi argued that state houses of assembly and governors must guarantee democratically elected local government systems, and he urged the top court to implement provisions 1, 4, 5, 7, and 14 of the constitution.
The Supreme Court ruled in the lead decision, written by Justice Emmanuel Agim, that it is unlawful for governors to withhold money meant for local government operations.
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Justice Agim emphasised that state administrations have refused local governments financial independence for over two decades.
He claimed that state governors working on behalf of local governments had embezzled their just compensation.
He rejected the state governors’ first objections, stressing that the 774 local government councils should handle their own finances.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court mandated that local governments receive direct payment of Federation Account allocations going forward.
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