AGF gives fresh update on Local Govt autonomy

After the Thursday Supreme Court Judgment, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has said the ruling will take immediate effect, noting that it has “emancipated” Local Government Areas from the “shackles of the past”.

It should be recall that the apex court had on Thursday ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay LG allocations directly to local government councils, declaring that for the state Governors to have a say on how the funds of the local government areas are spent as illegal and unconstitutional.

The apex court also ordered the federal government to stop sending the funds to non democratically elected council chairmen.

While speaking with newsmen after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, AGF Fagbemi said the judgment of the supreme court will take “immediate effect”.

According to him, the “ball is now in the court” of state governors to conduct LGA elections, adding that the judgment stipulates punishment for refusal.

,,,,,,,,“Naturally, one will be happy, should be happy. Nigerians are happy about it. I call it local government emancipation judgment because it has really emancipated the local government from the shackles of the past.

“I hope that local government officials will look at it as an opportunity to develop their various local governments.

“The judgment is clear as to what they should do, the judgment is clear as to what consequences will attach to failure or refusal to follow the judgment of the supreme court which takes immediate effect,” AGF Fagbemi added.