Local Government autonomy: giant stride towards restructuring Nigeria -APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Supreme Court’ ruling affirming Local Government autonomy is a giant stride towards restructuring Nigeria since it returned to civilian democratic rule in 1999.
Mr Felix Morka, the party’s
National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja while reacting to the development.
“The APC welcomes the epochal decision of the Supreme Court handed down on Thursday, July 11, 2024 affirming the right of local government Councils to receive their monthly allocations directly from the federation account.
“The decision struck down the proxy system in which state governments received federal allocations on behalf of local government councils in the country,” he said.
The APC spokesman added that the decision signified a historic moment in the consolidation of democratic federalism in the country.
He further added that the decision gave practical expression to constitutional recognition of local government councils as the third tier of government.
“The decision constitutes a single most significant stride towards restructuring Nigeria since the country’s return to civilian democratic rule in 1999.
“The Justice Emmanuel Agim-led seven-man panel also upheld the position of the Federal Government that state governors lacked authority under the law to arbitrarily dissolve democratically-elected local governments councils.
“And set up caretaker committees in their place as ubiquitously practiced,” Morka stressed.
He applauded the Supreme Court for justifying itself, and for its courage in rendering a definitive decision on this vexed national issue.
He said the clarity the court ruling brought would no doubt, spur further reform for effectiveness, transparency and accountability of local government administration in the country.
Morka commended the ingenuity, vision and commitment of President Bola Tinubu towards deepening the country’s democracy.
He also commended Tinubu for turning our local government councils into potential strongholds for development and more efficient service delivery to Nigerains at the grassroots through the court ruling.(https://newsatlarge.ng)