Politics

Supreme Court Rules Against Allocations to Local Governments with Unelected Officials

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 11th, 2024.

Supreme Court Rules Against Allocations to Local Governments with Unelected Officials

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has declared it illegal for state governors to dissolve democratically elected local governments and replace them with appointed officials.

The Court has ordered the Federal Government to withhold allocations to any local governments that are not governed by elected officials. This decision aims to ensure that funds are properly managed and used for the benefit of local communities, rather than being controlled and potentially misused by state governors.

Additionally, the Supreme Court has mandated that local government allocations should no longer be channeled through state governments. This measure is intended to prevent the practice where governors retain and utilize these funds as they see fit, often to the detriment of the local governments for which the allocations are intended.

These rulings were part of the ongoing judgment in a case concerning local government autonomy, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi SAN, on behalf of the Federal Government. The decision underscores the Court’s commitment to upholding democratic governance and financial accountability at the local government level.