Supreme Court verdict: Only elected local govt officials

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President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to grant financial autonomy to local government councils.

He noted that the ruling affirms the spirit, intent, and purpose of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding the statutory rights of local governments.

According to him, the judgement will ensure that only elected local officials will have control over people’s resources.

“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief, and today’s judgement will ensure that it will be only those local officials elected by the people who will control the resources of the people,” said President Tinubu in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity).

The president explained that a fundamental challenge to the nation’s advancement over the years has been ineffective local government administration, as governance at the critical cellular level of socio-political configuration is nearly absent.

He emphasised that the onus is now on local council leaders to ensure that the broad spectrum of Nigerians living at that level are satisfied that they are benefiting from people-oriented service delivery.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is about the people of this country, at all levels, irrespective of faith, tribe, gender, political affiliation, or any other artificial line they say exists between us. This country belongs to all of us.

“By virtue of this judgement, our people, especially the poor, will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions.

“What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses,” the statement quoted the president as saying.

Tinubu affirmed: “This judgement stands as a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and restructure our economy to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people.”

The president further noted that the provision of some essential amenities and public goods, such as the construction and maintenance of certain roads, streets, street lighting, drains, parks, gardens, open spaces, and other residual responsibilities, including community security, has tottered owing to the emasculation of local governments.

He opined that the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional rights and ideals of local governments as regards financial autonomy and other salient principles is of historic significance and further reinforces the effort to enhance Nigeria’s true federal fabric for the development of the entire nation.

President Tinubu commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for “his diligence and patriotic effort on this important assignment.”

Tinubu also stated that his administration remains committed to protecting the principles of the charter governing citizens, institutions of government, arms, and tiers of government in furtherance of building an efficient and performance-driven governance system that works for every Nigerian.

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