In the wake of a landmark Supreme Court ruling last Thursday, which barred state governors from controlling federal allocations meant for local government councils, no fewer than 13 states in Nigeria have begun preparations for local government elections.
This move signals a significant shift from the previous practice of appointing caretaker committees to administer these councils.
The states gearing up for council polls include Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Benue, Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, Kebbi, Abia, and Anambra. Kaduna State, for instance, has already set October 19, 2024, as the date for its local government elections, according to the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission.
The Supreme Court’s judgment, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim on suit SC/CV/343/2024, stemmed from a case brought by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), against all 36 state governors.
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Grassroots Parrot reported that the court ruled that the practice of state governors withholding and managing funds allocated to local governments was unconstitutional. It emphasized the autonomy of local government councils and mandated that they manage their funds independently.
Justice Agim declared that “the use of caretaker committees by state governments to administer local governments violates the 1999 Constitution,” adding that only democratically elected local government councils are legitimate. The ruling also invalidated the power of state governors to dissolve elected councils and replace them with caretaker committees.
In response to the verdict, which has been widely praised, federal officials, including Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, and Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), were reported to have planned a meeting with officials from the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee to discuss implementation. However, confirmation of the meeting’s occurrence was not available at press time.
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The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant step towards reinforcing democratic governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria, ensuring that local government councils operate independently and transparently in managing their affairs and finances.
Stay tuned for further updates as states continue to prepare for upcoming local government elections in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive.