Legislators, AGF Throw Weight Behind LGs Autonomy

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Fri, 2024

Metro

Legislators, AGF throw weight behind LGs autonomy

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By Salif Atojoko

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and justice minister Lateef Fagbemi, have applauded the Supreme Court judgement granting autonomy to local governments.

The legislators and the minister spoke on Thursday in Abuja when they visited President Bola Tinubu at the State House.

Akpabio said the request for local governments’ autonomy was placed before the courts by the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF), because the 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.

“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.

“I congratulate the president for this initiative.

“I know that all Nigerians now know that the local government 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 the 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. We shall work with the AGF’s office and the parliament to ensure that there’s real election at the local government level.

“I think that 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,” he said.

Abbas was emphatic that history had been made with the Supreme Court judgement affirming the autonomy of local governments.

“This is an issue that has been before the parliament for the past two years; of 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 governments that will work functionally, and that will be able to work on their own and extend goodwill to their own people undisturbed,” he said.

Fagbemi likened the Supreme Court judgement to the emancipation of local governments.

“It has 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 state government’s conduct elections for local government areas.

“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.”(NAN)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

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