Nigeria's Supreme Court grants full autonomy to Local Governments
Supreme Court Orders FG To Pay Allocations Directly To LGAs
Bars Governors from sacking LG Chairs
The Federal Supreme Court of Nigeria has granted a full financial autonomy to the local governments in the country.
In a suit between the federal government and state governments, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government should pay monthly allocations directly to the local governments account. It also bars the State Government from arbitrary removal of the local governments' chairmen.
The Supreme Court has also barred governors from dissolving democratically elected officials for Local Governments.
The Court also orders the Federal Government to henceforth withhold allocations to Local Governments governed by unelected officials appointed by the Governor.
In a landmark judgement on Thursday, Court said not doing so, would amount to a breach of the 1999 Constitution.
Earlier, federal government was ordered by the Supreme Court to henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.
The seven-member panel of justices held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs.
Going by this landmark judgement, the elections into the local governments will invariably become a subject of independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In most of the states of the federation , governors are running the local governments by caretakers or elections are Long overdue but we're not conducted .
These are the states running local governments with caretaker committees;
1. Rivers – Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara appointed caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas as he continues his battle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, for the control of the political structure in the oil-rich state.
2. Jigawa – On June 28, 2024, the government of Jigawa State dissolved the elected council chairmen of the 27 local governments.
3. Anambra – On June 20, 2024, Governor Charles Soludo, through the House of Assembly, confirmed the appointment of transition committee chairmen and councillors for the 21 local government areas.
4. Zamfara – In Zamfara, the last grassroots poll was held on April 27, 2019, and the State returned to appointees after the chairmen’s tenures expired. In May 2024, the Assembly approved a six-month extension for the caretaker committee.
5. In Benue, however, elections are scheduled to be held on July 6, 2024, for LG council chairmen.
6. Bauchi – Last year, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, sworn in 20 appointed local government area caretaker committee chairmen with their deputies.
7. Plateau – June 2023, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau inaugurated the Interim Transition Committee chairpersons for its 17 local government areas at Government House Jos.
8. Abia – In December 2023, Abia Governor Alex Otti, inaugurated the 17 local government transition council chairpersons.
9. Enugu – In March 2024, Enugu State Government ordered local government chairmen in the 17 councils to hand over administration to heads of personnel management after the expiration of their tenures.
10. Katsina
11. Kano – In March 2024, Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State recommended names of Interim Management Committee members for Local Government Areas of the state to its House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
12. Sokoto
13. Yobe – In April 2024, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, approved the dissolution of all the 17 local government councils of the state, and also directed all local government chairmen to handover the affairs of their respective local governments to Directors of Personnel Management.
14. Ondo – Ondo State Government also constituted Caretaker Committees for the 18 Local Councils and 33 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDA).
15. Osun – In February 2024, Osun Assembly extended the tenure of office and re-appointed caretaker committees of 30 Local Government Areas and 39 others running Modakeke Area Office and Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The extension was subsequently secured for the caretaker chairmen, vice chairmen, scribes and their members’ fresh six months tenure, beginning in February and ending in August 2024.
16. Delta
17. Akwa-Ibom – Governor Umo Eno last year through a letter with reference number GHU/AKS/S/104/VOL.1/607, addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Udeme Otong, informed the House of Assembly that there was no provision in the 2023 budget for the conduct of local government elections.
He urged the Assembly to pass a resolution authorising him to set up interim administration at the 31 local government areas at the expiration of the tenure of the elected council officials.
18. Cross River
19. In Imo State, the last council poll was conducted on August 25, 2018, which was the first in seven years.
20. In Kwara State, the last council election was in November 2017 with caretaker committees in charge since 2020.
Supreme Court Orders FG To Pay Allocations Directly To LGAs
Bars Governors from sacking LG Chairs
The Federal Supreme Court of Nigeria has granted a full financial autonomy to the local governments in the country.
In a suit between the federal government and state governments, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government should pay monthly allocations directly to the local governments account. It also bars the State Government from arbitrary removal of the local governments' chairmen.
The Supreme Court has also barred governors from dissolving democratically elected officials for Local Governments.
The Court also orders the Federal Government to henceforth withhold allocations to Local Governments governed by unelected officials appointed by the Governor.
In a landmark judgement on Thursday, Court said not doing so, would amount to a breach of the 1999 Constitution.
Earlier, federal government was ordered by the Supreme Court to henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.
The seven-member panel of justices held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs.
Going by this landmark judgement, the elections into the local governments will invariably become a subject of independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In most of the states of the federation , governors are running the local governments by caretakers or elections are Long overdue but we're not conducted .
These are the states running local governments with caretaker committees;
1. Rivers – Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara appointed caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas as he continues his battle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, for the control of the political structure in the oil-rich state.
2. Jigawa – On June 28, 2024, the government of Jigawa State dissolved the elected council chairmen of the 27 local governments.
3. Anambra – On June 20, 2024, Governor Charles Soludo, through the House of Assembly, confirmed the appointment of transition committee chairmen and councillors for the 21 local government areas.
4. Zamfara – In Zamfara, the last grassroots poll was held on April 27, 2019, and the State returned to appointees after the chairmen’s tenures expired. In May 2024, the Assembly approved a six-month extension for the caretaker committee.
5. In Benue, however, elections are scheduled to be held on July 6, 2024, for LG council chairmen.
6. Bauchi – Last year, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, sworn in 20 appointed local government area caretaker committee chairmen with their deputies.
7. Plateau – June 2023, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau inaugurated the Interim Transition Committee chairpersons for its 17 local government areas at Government House Jos.
8. Abia – In December 2023, Abia Governor Alex Otti, inaugurated the 17 local government transition council chairpersons.
9. Enugu – In March 2024, Enugu State Government ordered local government chairmen in the 17 councils to hand over administration to heads of personnel management after the expiration of their tenures.
10. Katsina
11. Kano – In March 2024, Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State recommended names of Interim Management Committee members for Local Government Areas of the state to its House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
12. Sokoto
13. Yobe – In April 2024, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, approved the dissolution of all the 17 local government councils of the state, and also directed all local government chairmen to handover the affairs of their respective local governments to Directors of Personnel Management.
14. Ondo – Ondo State Government also constituted Caretaker Committees for the 18 Local Councils and 33 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDA).
15. Osun – In February 2024, Osun Assembly extended the tenure of office and re-appointed caretaker committees of 30 Local Government Areas and 39 others running Modakeke Area Office and Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The extension was subsequently secured for the caretaker chairmen, vice chairmen, scribes and their members’ fresh six months tenure, beginning in February and ending in August 2024.
16. Delta
17. Akwa-Ibom – Governor Umo Eno last year through a letter with reference number GHU/AKS/S/104/VOL.1/607, addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Udeme Otong, informed the House of Assembly that there was no provision in the 2023 budget for the conduct of local government elections.
He urged the Assembly to pass a resolution authorising him to set up interim administration at the 31 local government areas at the expiration of the tenure of the elected council officials.
18. Cross River
19. In Imo State, the last council poll was conducted on August 25, 2018, which was the first in seven years.
20. In Kwara State, the last council election was in November 2017 with caretaker committees in charge since 2020.
