The Secretary General of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mohammed Abubakar, and human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, have called on state governors to support President Bola Tinubu in implementing local government autonomy.
They urged governors to comply with the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local councils, stressing that the ruling leaves no room for discretion.
The appeal followed President Tinubu’s remarks at the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, where he asked governors to obey the court verdict. The President warned that failure to comply could force him to issue an executive order to ensure that allocations from the Federation Account are paid directly to local governments.
Tinubu’s position is based on the July 11, 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial independence for local councils.
Abubakar said the apex court’s ruling was clear and unambiguous, adding that council funds must be paid directly to local governments.
“The Supreme Court is very clear that the funds should be paid to the local governments directly. The President should go ahead and do the needful. We are in full support of that,” he said.
Abubakar noted that Tinubu’s public stance demonstrated strong political will, urging governors and other stakeholders to support the President to ensure the smooth implementation of local government autonomy.
Similarly, Effiong said the Supreme Court judgment must be obeyed, stressing that its enforcement falls within the constitutional responsibilities of the Attorney General of the Federation and the President.
“It is a Supreme Court judgment and it must be enforced. The Attorney General has the responsibility to enforce it, and the President should ensure its enforcement,” he said.
Effiong described opposition by some governors as unfortunate, adding that respect for the rule of law is essential to democracy.
“The position of the Supreme Court is clear, and the governors should comply with its decision,” he stated.
Punch
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