On the 11th of July 2024 the highest court of Nigeria (Supreme Court), delivered a turning point judgement stating that all local governments in Nigeria should be given full freedom to financial autonomy. The fight for economic and other independence for all the 774 local governments was driven by a panel of 7 members and spearheaded by Justice Mohammed Garba.
The uprise of the cry for independence from the State government by the local government and other local indigenes emanated due to the full sidelining they experienced in terms of lack of authority to carry out the role of the core reasons of the arm of government. Before the court order, countless state governors who after receiving funds from the federal government to facilitate infrastructural and other core needs of the local government, would rather abuse the rights of the people and siphoned funds for untraceable use.
After the Supreme Court’s verdict, great relief took over the nation signifying justice, a back-to-purpose reinstatement, and independence. It was written all over the face every citizen as face were lit with smiling expressions.
As a follow-up on defaulting governors who may choose to disregard the judgment, many anti-corruption agencies and other authoritative bodies promised to go after any state governor who choose to do otherwise.
Sequel to the court order and all promises to track defaulting governors, the Nigerian Governors Forum NGF is on the move to resist the full enactment of the Local Government Autonomy. High corrupt attempts are secretly going underground. These underground steps include walking the halls to maneuver their way to have top government officials collaborate with them to sideline the order.
This act has triggered loud alarms all over the country and many are reacting to this corrupt move. Many civil society groups like the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership (COAL), and another peace-resolving organization the United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRP), expressed great disappointment in the corrupt act of the governors.
According to the Chairman of COAL, Debo Adeniran, the governors are mounting strong pressures and a mix of lobbying to ensure that the decree becomes inactive and silenced. He also said that:
“The lobbying is unnecessary and unwarranted, and the president should not allow it to work. If the president insists, then they will not succeed because the rule of law must prevail”.
” The Supreme Court has ruled, that it is left for them to implement, so nothing must stop it otherwise we would have to put the rule of law in jeopardy and that’s not good for us”.
As many local government Chairmen await the allocation directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chairman of Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Adam Rufai, and that of Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State Dr. Ahmed Wali made known to the public that they are yet to get allocations. Dr. Wali said they are still hoping to receive an allocation in October due to plans that are in the pipeline to open a Local Government Account with the CBN.
With the current situation and the look of things, many State Governors are on the verge of challenging the supremacy of the Federal Government and the Supreme Court of Law of Nigeria. The act of doing everything within their power just to have the law tested is a sign of corruption, and disregard for authority. As a wake-up call, the Power of the Supreme court is being tested and supremacy must never lose its place of authority as regards the pressing issues.
