S’Court Ruling On Local Government Fund, A Win For Democracy- Yiaga Africa

A non-governmental organization, Yiaga Africa, has hailed Thursday’s ruling of the Supreme Court that declared unconstitutional state governments’ holding of local governments funds.

Yiaga Africa, committed to the promotion of Africa’s democratic governance, said the ruling of the Supreme Court was a win for democracy.

Yiaga said the ruling has increased the possibility of better governance at the grassroots level, which has been lacking because state governors fail to guarantee the independence of local governments as the third tier of government recognized by Nigeria’s constitution.

“This is a win for our democracy and greatly increases the possibility of better governance at the grassroots level,” Yiaga said on Thursday.

Nigeria’s Supreme Court, in lead ruling by Justice Emmanuel Agim, decried that the refusal of state governments on financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades.

It said local governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the state governors who act in their stead.

Justice Agim upheld that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.

He dismissed the preliminary objections of the defendants (state governors).

Naija News had reported that the House of Representatives on Tuesday, during plenary, decried that state governors, despite a resolution of the Senate in 2023 and a previous Supreme Court judgement, refused to allow elected chairmen to preside local governments.

According to Somolu federal constituency member, Ademorin Kuye, 21  states operate the local council areas with appointed caretaker chairmen.

Honourable Kuye called the House of Reps to mandate the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to halt allocations to council areas without elected leaders.