The Labour Party (LP) has commended the Supreme Court for the judgement affirming the financial autonomy of Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
The LP, in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, said the apex court judgement was long in coming “but like a saying goes, it is better late than never”.
The party stated: “It has put to rest the debate as to whether or not local government areas that are the closest level of government to the ordinary people deserve to enjoy some form of autonomy to address challenges facing the masses within their jurisdiction.
“We can now safely say local government areas now have greater freedom to initiate and complete projects which will reduce suffering at the grassroots.
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“This autonomy comes with a huge responsibility on local government councils just as councillors now owe their constituents a duty to hold local government chairmen accountable by ensuring prudent management of their resources.
“The expectation of Nigerians from the local government administration now is simple.
“They each must now take up the challenge of this newfound independence to ensure judicious use of public funds in their custody.”
The LP, however, enjoined council chairmen “not to see the additional inflow of public funds as an opportunity to engage in reckless spending and embarking on white elephant projects which can negate the whole essence of the financial autonomy granted them.”
The Star had reported that the Supreme Court, on Thursday, declared that henceforth all Local Government Area allocations should be paid directly into their accounts.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who led a seven-member panel of the justices of the Supreme Court, said: “Henceforth, no more payment of the Local Government Area allocations to the state government accounts.”
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