LG Autonomy: 36 Governors Warned About Supreme Court Decision

• 36 Nigerian governors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Governors Forum have been warned not to undermine the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy
• In its statement on Thursday, November 7, NULGE raised the claim that some governors are not ready to comply with the Supreme Court decision.
• The group warned that any attempt to downplay the decision on local government autonomy would face strict restrictions

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has issued a stern warning to state governors who seek to undermine the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments. local governments. The move comes after the Supreme Court ruled on July 11, 2024, that it was unconstitutional for governors to withhold funds allocated to 774 local government areas (LGAs).

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The Supreme Court’s decision was clear: Governors cannot dissolve democratically elected local government councils because this violates the 1999 Constitution. Constitution. This decision is a significant victory for local government autonomy in Nigeria. NULGE, however, alleged that some governors were trying to circumvent the top court’s order.

LG autonomy: NULGE explains its stance on governors’ actions

NULGE’s position is that the governors’ actions are unacceptable and will be met with resistance. The union is calling federal government to ensure that the decision is implemented and that local governments directly receive the allocated funds. This will enable them to operate effectively and provide essential services to their communities.

The financial autonomy granted to local governments is expected to increase their ability to manage their affairs independently. With direct funding, local governments can prioritize projects and programs that will benefit their residents rather than relying on approval from state governors. This shift in power dynamics is likely to reduce governors’ influence over local government affairs.

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As the situation unfolded, NULGE promised to closely monitor the governors’ actions. The union’s warning is a reminder that the Supreme Court’s decision must be respected and any attempt to undermine it will be met with opposition.

Source: Legit.ng