Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the ruling of the supreme court affirming the fiscal autonomy of LGAs in the country is a “win for the people of Nigeria”.
In May, the federal government filed a suit at the supreme
court against the governors of the 36 states, seeking full autonomy for the
country’s 774 local governments.
In the suit filed by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the
federation (AGF) and minister of justice, the federal government also requested
the supreme court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the federation
account to local governments — in accordance with the constitution.
Earlier on Thursday, the supreme court ruled that the
federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to the LGs from
the federation account.
The apex court also ordered the federal government to
withhold allocations of LGs governed by unelected officials appointed by the
governor.
Reacting in a post on his X page, Abubakar commended the
supreme court’s judgment, describing the ruling as a “step in the right
direction” for national development.
However, he criticised the federal government’s decision to
consolidate local council revenues into state government accounts, calling it a
“politics of hasty compromise”.
“The judgment of the
Supreme Court earlier today affirming fiscal autonomy to local government
councils in the country is a win for the people of Nigeria,” Abubakar wrote.
“The court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a
major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across
the country.
“The decision by the Federal Government to consolidate
disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts
was a decision that was borne out of politics of hasty compromise.
“I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the
structure of the Nigerian government is portioned in three layers, and of
these, the local governments should be centres of development.”
The former vice-president advocated for the expansion of
fiscal autonomy beyond federation account allocations.
“I also share the belief that fiscal autonomy to the local
governments should not be limited to revenues from the Federation Accounts but,
indeed, should apply to Internally Generated Revenue from the respective local
government authorities.
“Many of our states, especially those in the ultra-urban
areas with high-density economic activities, have become notorious in muscling
local councils from generating revenue on items that border on motor parks,
outdoor advertising, rents and many more.
“The verdict of the court is in tandem with the core
functions of the Supreme Court as an arbitration court between and among
governments.”
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