President Bola Tinubu has disclosed the reasons behind the introduction of the Local Government autonomy suit against the 36 state governors in the country.

The Star had reported that the Supreme Court, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, 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, declared: “Henceforth, no more payment of the Local Government Area allocations to the state government accounts.”

Speaking on the development, Tinubu commended the apex court judgement, saying it affirmed the spirit, intent, and purpose of the Nigerian Constitution on the statutory rights of local governments.

The president, in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, noted that his administration instituted the suit for Nigerians to have relief.

Tinubu said: “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.”

President Tinubu stated that a fundamental challenge to the nation’s advancement over the years has been ineffective local government administration, as governance at the critical cellular level of socio-political configuration is nearly absent.

Supreme Court orders direct payment of allocations into LG accounts

He further stressed that the onus is now on local council leaders to ensure that the broad spectrum of Nigerians living at that level are satisfied that they are benefitting from people-oriented service delivery.

Tinubu added: “The Renewed Hope Agenda is about the people of this country, at all levels, irrespective of faith, tribe, gender, political affiliation, or any other artificial line they say exists between us. This country belongs to all of us.

“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. What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.”

Tinubu noted that the provision of some essential amenities and public goods, such as the construction and maintenance of certain roads, streets, street lighting, drains, parks, gardens, open spaces, and other residual responsibilities, including community security, has tottered owing to the emasculation of local governments.

He said the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional rights and ideals of local governments as regards financial autonomy, and other salient principles, is of historic significance and further reinforces the effort to enhance Nigeria’s true federal fabric for the development of the entire nation.

President Tinubu, therefore, commended the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his “diligence and patriotic effort on this important assignment”.

The Star