Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has endorsed the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy in the country.
Atiku, who endorsed the ruling on Thursday through X stated that “This is a win for the people of Nigeria.”
Upturning the Status Quo
The Supreme Court upturned the status quo where local council revenues are consolidated into state government accounts.
Flaws of the Old Order
Atiku faulted the old order, calling it a product of hasty political compromise.
For Local Development
He supports the decision, “I agree with the Supreme Court that the Nigerian government is a three-tier structure and among this three, local governments should be the hub of development.”
Broad Fiscal Autonomy
Atiku also wants fiscal autonomy to go beyond Federation Account allocations. “I also think fiscal autonomy for local governments should go beyond Federation Account revenues to include Internally Generated Revenue from local government authorities”
State Interference
He pointed out that state governments, especially in urban areas, have been interfering with local councils’ revenue generation.
“Many states, especially those in ultra-urban areas with high economic activity, have become notorious for preventing local councils from generating revenue from motor parks, outdoor advertising, rents and more,” Atiku said.
He commended the Supreme Court, “The court has lived up to its role as an umpire between different levels of government”
State Governors’ Actions Unconstitutional – Supreme Court
On Thursday, the Supreme Court in ots ruling made it clear that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds allocated to local government administrations.
A seven-man panel led by Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the 774 local government councils in Nigeria should manage their own funds.
Strengthening Local Government
The court also ruled that government is divided into three arms: federal, state and local. It also ruled that state governments have no powers to appoint caretaker committees, that local governments must be democratically elected.
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