By Damilare Adeleye
The Supreme Court has granted a full financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country, baring the 36 governors of the federation from further retaining or utilizing funds that are meant for the LGAs.
While ruling on Thursday, the apex court declared that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.
It maintained that the “dubious practice” which has gone on for over two decades, was a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court held that no House of Assembly of any state has the power to make laws that could, in any manner, interfere with monies meant for the LGAs.
Stressing that the law mandated that LGAs must be governed by democratically elected officials, the Supreme Court ordered that forthwith, funds meant for the LGAs must be directly paid to them from the federation account.
“Demands of justice require a progressive interpretation of the law. It is the position of this court that the federation can pay LGA allocations to the LGAs directly or pay them through the states.
“In this case, since paying them through states has not worked, justice of this case demands that LGA allocations from the federation account should henceforth be paid directly to the LGAs,” the apex court held.
It further declared unconstitutional the appointment of caretaker committees by governors to run the affairs of the LGAs.
It held that the 36 states are under obligation to ensure democratic governance at the third tier of government.
The judgement followed a suit the Federal Government filed to secure financial autonomy for the LGAs.
Earlier, the court dismissed preliminary objections the state governors filed to challenge the competence of the suit.
Justice Lawal, who led a 7-man panel of Justices of the Apex Court, announced the reservation of the judgment after the federal government and the governors presented their cases for adjudication.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN presented the case of the federal government, while the 36 state governors presented their own cases through their lawyers.