News

Six Key Takeaways from Local government autonomy Supreme court judgement

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

Admin

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Supreme-Court.jpg&description=Six Key Takeaways from Local government autonomy Supreme court judgement', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Supreme-Court.jpg&description=Six Key Takeaways from Local government autonomy Supreme court judgement', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

ADVERTISEMENT

The Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on Thursday, July 11, 2019, that the Federal Government must henceforth pay funds allocated to the local governments in Nigeria directly to those administered by democratically elected officials. Delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the ruling is said to rid off an executive or constitutional violation that dates back so many years and is binding on a new way of administration for local government funds in the country. Here are the six key takeaways from the judgment:

1. Unconstitutional Practice:
The Supreme Court banned the practice whereby state governors receive and withhold funds meant to be allocated to LGAs as illegal and unconstitutional. The practice, which has been in action for over two decades, was a violation of the constitutional provisions on local government autonomy.

2. Violation of the Constitution:
The court held that the withholding of LGA funds by state governments and other entities amounts to a misapplication of the funds, as Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution had succinctly made provisions for the allocation and transfer of the funds to the local government areas.

3. Direct Payment of Funds:
The court mandated that funds for LGAs be directly paid from the federation account into the banks of the local governments, bypassing the state governments. This means funds will have to be paid directly to the local governments lest the aim of their being dispatched—that is, development and administration of the locals—should go astray.

4. Democratic Governance Mandate:
The judgment therefore emphasized the need for democratic governance at the grassroots. The court ruled that a governor’s act in appointing caretaker committees to run LGA affairs is unconstitutional, reiterating that LGAs must be run by democratically elected people.

5. Obligation of States:
The judgment also held that the 36 states are under an obligation to ensure democratic governance at the grassroots level. This means they have to allow for the election of local government officials and that LGAs operate independently of undue state interference.

6. Repulse of Governors’ Objections:
The Supreme Court dismissed the objection filed by state governors against the competence of a suit before it by the federal government.

This was to secure financial autonomy for LGAs, with the court’s dismissal of the governors’ objections paving the way for enforcement.

The ruling is therefore considered one major step forward toward enhancing the autonomy of the local government and for money allocated for local development to be utilised as it should.

That decision of the Supreme Court is for strengthening democratic processes at the grassroots level also, apart from upholding constitutional provisions. Further developments will ensue as Federal Government and state governments adjust to fall in line with this Landmark ruling.

News

Congress moves to halt US assistance to Nigeria over FG’s failure to protect citizens

Published

16 minutes ago

July 16, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

The United States House of Representatives has endorsed an amendment that would increase the withholding of certain US assistance to Nigeria from 50 percent to 100 percent until the country takes effective steps to address violence and improve the protection of its citizens.

The amendment, proposed by Representative Gregory Steube of Florida’s 17th Congressional District, was adopted by a voice vote on Wednesday.

The House had earlier proposed withholding 50 percent of funds appropriated for Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken “effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable”.

Under the new amendment, the withholding would increase to 100 percent, while retaining the same conditions for the release of the funds.

Speaking in support of his motion, Steube said withholding only 50 percent of the funds appeared to reward the Nigerian government “despite failure to meet its fundamental obligation to protect citizens”.

“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 percent to 100 percent. While keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country.

“Nigeria has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address.

“For years, and especially in recent months, Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria have been subjected to violence and terrorism at the hands of extremists operating with impunity.

“Christian women and girls continue to be abducted, assaulted, tortured, and killed. Their churches are burned, and entire communities are erased.

“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding.

“The generosity of our taxpayers is a reflection of the American values we hold so firmly.

“Never should we allow their hard earned tax dollars to be funnelled to corrupt regimes that fail to uphold religious freedom, fail to adequately confront terrorism, and fail to protect the innocent from persecution.

“So, why are we rewarding a government that fails to meet such a basic obligation?”

Steube said it is absurd to expend foreign aid to Nigeria in the face of rising insecurity, especially as America’s national debt approaches $40 trillion,” Gregory Steube stated.

News

If Umahi’s daughter was found naked and dead in a poor man’s house Nigeria would’ve been on fire-Dalung

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

Ex- Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has criticised what he described as double standards in the investigation into the death of physiotherapist Mary Habila, saying the public response would have been entirely different if the victim had been the daughter of a government official

Dalung made the remark while reacting to the controversy surrounding Habila’s death at the country residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Speaking in a video shared on social media, the former minister questioned the pace and manner of the investigation, arguing that ordinary Nigerians are often subjected to harsher scrutiny than powerful public office holders.

“If Umahi’s daughter had been found naked in a poor man’s house, Nigeria would be burning,” Dalung said, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death would have attracted a different level of public outrage and official response if the roles had been reversed.

Mary Habila, a 26-year-old physiotherapist from Kaduna State, was found dead at Umahi’s residence on June 27, 2026. She was reportedly attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works.

Umahi has since confirmed the incident, describing Habila as a dedicated member of staff who had worked with him for about three years. He said emergency medical personnel were contacted immediately after she was found unresponsive and disclosed that he advised the family to consent to an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The minister has repeatedly denied allegations of any cover-up, insisting that he has nothing to hide and supports a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the physiotherapist’s death.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force transferred the case to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation, as public interest in the incident continues to grow.

Dalung’s remarks add to the increasing calls for transparency and accountability in the investigation, with many Nigerians demanding that the case be thoroughly investigated and that its outcome be made public regardless of the status of those involved.