The Supreme Court has delivered a judgment on Local government autonomy in a suit involving the Nigerian governors and the federal government.
The apex court declared that collection of local government funds by state governments is unconstitutional.
A seven-man panel of the Supreme Court on Thursday delivered the ruling, DAILY GIST reports
Justice Emmanuel Agim, gave this verdict while delivering judgement in the suit marked: SC/CV/343/2024, which was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN against the 36 state governors seeking full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country.
The court’s decision sets a precedent, stating that states’ retention of funds from the federation account on behalf of local governments is a violation of the constitution.
The Nigerian government had argued that the constitution grants local governments autonomy and that states’ interference with their funds is illegal.
The 36 states, on the other hand, had opposed the suit, urging the court to dismiss it.
The Supreme Court thereby dismissed all preliminary objections in the suit.
More details to follow….
