Supreme Court Grants LGA Autonomy, Declares Caretaker Committees Illegal

In a landmark judgement delivered Thursday in Abuja, the Supreme Court freed Local Governments Administration in Nigeria from oppressive claws of State Governors with granting of financial autonomy to the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivering the lead judgment, held that no state House of Assembly has the authority to enact laws that interfere with monies designated for the LGAs. In his words

“It is the position of this Court that the federation can pay LGA allocations to the LGAs directly or through the states.
In this case, since paying through the states has not worked, justice demands that LGA allocations from the federation account should henceforth be paid directly to the LGAs.”
Justice Agim stated.

This development underscores the illegality and unconstitutionality with which State Governors administered Local Governments funds for over 20 years.
Significantly, this judgement from the Apex Court aims to promote transparency and accountability in the management of resources at the grassroots level and the seaming oppression by Governor’s in gross violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

In a related news, the Supreme Court also declared unconstitutional the appointment of Caretaker Committees by Governor’s to manage LGAs, asserting that states are obligated to ensure democratic governance at the local level with a view to bring governance nearer the people.
This judgment follows a suit filed by the Federal Government to secure financial autonomy for the LGAs.