By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist Femi Falana has expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision, instructing state governments to refrain from controlling the federal allocations of local governments.
Falana a guest on Channels Television’s flagship programme, Sunrise Daily on Friday, argued that the judgment was not meant to strip the state governments of its influence on the LGAs, but rather, would promote accountability at the grassroots level.
He said, “A lot depends on the Nigerian people because right now, it is difficult to talk about the autonomy of the local government. The state’s electoral commissions are manned by appointees of the state governors.
“And what they have done over the years is to manipulate the local government elections in a way that only the candidates of the ruling parties would be declared the winners.
“Now, local governments would be expected to fix some schools, tar some roads, and even pay some workers. So, it is not that state governments will no longer participate in the affairs of the local governments…the state governments should create state economic councils and allow the local government to participate in them, just like they are part of the federal economic council.
“The judgment has to be studied by the governors so that everybody will appreciate that what the Supreme Court has done is to promote public accountability at the grassroots levels.”
In its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court on Thursday, mandated the Federal Government to begin immediate and direct payment of local government funds to the latter’s exclusive accounts.
The Supreme Court scolded the decades-long refusal of the state government on financial autonomy for local governments
President Bola Tinubu in the wake of the verdict said it will pave the way for more accountability.
He said, “By virtue of this judgement, our people – especially the poor – will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions,” presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted Tinubu as saying in a statement.
“What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.
“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief and today’s judgement will ensure that it will be only those local officials elected by the people that will control the resources of the people.
This judgement stands as a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and restructure our economy to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people.”