Speaker applauds ruling on LG autonomy, says history has been made

By Kunle Sanni

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has praised the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the financial autonomy of local governments, calling it a long-overdue development.

Speaking to State House reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Abbas expressed his delight with the judgment and anticipated that local government administrators will now be able to work independently.

He recalled that the issue of actualizing financial autonomy for local governments has been a persistent topic in the parliament for years.

“The members are very happy because history has been made. This is an issue that has been before the parliament for the past 20 years. All the constitutional amendments carried out by the National Assembly have always included aspects of local government autonomy and how to enable LGs to work independently,” Abbas stated.

He added, “Today, that impossibility became a reality. Everyone is happy, and we are looking forward to local governments that will function effectively and extend goodwill to their communities without being disturbed by the excesses of state governors.”

The Supreme Court’s judgment, delivered on Thursday by a seven-member panel of justices, declared that state governments have been abusing their powers by retaining and misusing funds meant for local government areas (LGAs).

The court also ordered the federal government to withhold allocations to LGs governed by unelected officials appointed by state governors.

Western Post Online had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision.

He stated that the ruling affirms the spirit, intent, and purpose of the Nigerian Constitution regarding the statutory rights of local governments.