Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy: A Victory for Democracy__NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has hailed the Supreme Court’s decision that grants fiscal independence to local government councils nationwide. NLC President Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Thursday, described the court’s judgment as a beacon of hope for the country’s democracy and judiciary.
Ajaero praised the verdict as “both bold and beneficial,” reflecting on the arduous journey toward local government autonomy. He stated, “The landmark ruling on Thursday, July 11, 2024, which mandates direct financial allocations to local governments and strips state governments of the authority to remove local government executives, is both courageous and necessary.
“This historic judgment by the Supreme Court has not only reinforced our democratic principles but also renewed our faith in the system.
“For years, we have witnessed with frustration the relentless undermining of local government powers and have engaged in numerous national protests as workers.”
Ajaero also acknowledged the contributions of the 9th National Assembly, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in achieving this milestone.
He added, “We recognize the efforts of the Buhari Administration in loosening the governors’ grip on local governments and commend the significant role played by the 9th Assembly.
“This statement would be incomplete without acknowledging the Tinubu administration’s initiative to bring this case before the Supreme Court. We specifically commend the President and the Attorney General of the Federation.”
However, Ajaero emphasized the need for the Supreme Court’s ruling to be implemented and raised concerns about the conduct of local government elections by state electoral commissions.
“Should State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) be allowed to conduct elections, or should the National Electoral Commission (NEC) take over, despite its heavy workload and shortcomings? Should there be a regulatory body overseeing SIECs? These questions need to be addressed through stakeholder discussions,” he said.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds allocated to local government administrations. In a ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the seven-member panel affirmed that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their own finances.
The court clarified that governmental power is divided among the federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, it ruled that state governments cannot appoint caretaker committees, asserting that only democratically elected local government councils are legitimate.
