There have been raging controversies over the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria despite legal pronouncement on the matter.
Before the legal verdict by the Supreme Court which grants local governments across the country financial autonomy, the 774 local governments were tied to the apron strings of state governments, dictating the pace. Their finances were channeled through their respective state government who manipulated their accounts and gave what they felt was what was due to them. It was a case of impunity for which the Local Government Chairmen could hardly resist.
Indeed, many states governors saw the councils as extension of their jurisdiction, dishing orders, prescribing development initiatives and urging them to give largesse to their political allies even at the detriment of the grassroots communities they are expected to serve.
Stakeholders and advocacy groups have over the years called for a reversal of the trend that has not seen LGs serving the essential purpose for which they were created.
The issue of LG autonomy predates the coming of the President Bola Tinubu administration. Just before it, the government led by Muhammadu Buhari initiated moves to ensure that LGs received their allocations without the interference of the states but it was determinedly resisted by state governors who did not want to lose their stronghold on the LGs.
In some instances, the governors ensure that they install their stooges as LG chairs and in turn expect an unalloyed loyalty. It is when this allegiance becomes suspect that friction becomes inevitable between the parties. That breeds untold consequences as the development expected at that level eludes them. At the end, it robs off on the people who hardly enjoy the benefits expected at the grassroots level. When these frictions get to a head, the governors wield the big stick, sacking such ‘erring’ chairs and assigning a fresh ‘Man Friday’ in their stead.
However, all of all that is about to change as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi ,SAN, has warned governors who fail to grant autonomy to the local governments in their states risk treason charges and unpleasant consequences.
He was so affirmative during the opening ceremony of a state of the nation discourse with the theme: “Strengthening Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: A Dialogue on the Impact and Implementation of the Supreme Court Judgement” organised by the Nigeria Bar Association ,NBA, on in Abuja, recently.
Fagbemi, who was represented by the Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Tijani Gazali ,SAN, insisted that the actions of the 36 state governors necessitated the President Bola Tinubu administration’s filing of the action at the Supreme Court seeking constitutional interpretation, adding that all the reliefs of the Federal Government were granted.
“It is, however, imperative to state that despite the Supreme Court judgment outlawing the illegal removal of democratically elected local government chairmen by state governors, it is quite unfortunate that few states have continued to flagrantly carry on with this illegality.
He noted that although Section 308 grants immunity to state governors, their actions would attract “unpleasant consequences.”
Clearly situated, it is believed that the FG has put a seal on LG autonomy such that Governors can no longer infringe on the autonomy of that level of government despite the obvious resistance.
We insist that the states have enough resources based on the relevant disbursement from the Federation Account which is constitutionally based.
It is abhorrent that some governors are citing rash litigations in their jurisdictions as reasons autonomy cannot be granted to their LGs. These litigations are unnecessary in the first place.
Given the level the matter has assumed, the autonomy of LGs is imperative as the grassroots provides the necessary development that can touch the lives of the common man.
State governors should sheath the sword on this matter and allow LGs to exist untainted.
They can exercise their oversight function alongside their respective assemblies to put LGs on track.
