Supreme Court Rules Against Governors, Bans caretaker Committees For LGs And Joint Accounts

Supreme Court Rules Against Governors, Bans caretaker Committees For LGs And Joint Accounts

In a landmark decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court handed a significant victory to the Federal Government by granting full financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments. The ruling effectively outlawed the appointment of caretaker committees by state governors and declared the joint accounts between states and local governments illegal………. CONTINUE READING

The seven-man panel, led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivered a unanimous judgement in favor of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who filed suit SC/CV/343/2024 against the 36 state governors. The lawsuit challenged the governors’ control over local government finances and the appointment of caretaker committees.

According to the court’s ruling, local governments are to receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account, rather than through state governments. This decision aims to ensure that funds allocated to local councils are managed by democratically elected officials, as mandated by the constitution.

“The practice of appointing caretaker committees to administer local governments violates the constitution,” Justice Agim stated in the lead judgement. He emphasized that local government councils must be democratically elected and affirmed that any other form of administration is unconstitutional.

The judgement also addressed the distribution of funds from the Federation Account, stating that local governments should receive their allocations without interference from state authorities. This move is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in local governance across Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu and several stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Union of Local Government Employees, have praised the Supreme Court’s decision. They see it as a crucial step towards strengthening grassroots governance and ensuring effective service delivery at the local level.

In response to the ruling, President Tinubu expressed optimism that the judgement would lead to improved governance and service delivery, particularly for the most vulnerable communities. He highlighted the importance of local governments in Nigeria’s socio-political landscape, underscoring their role in driving inclusive development.

With this judgement, the Supreme Court has set a precedent for upholding constitutional principles and advancing democratic governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria.