…Commends President Tinubu
The Renewed Kaduna Restoration Group, (RKRG), has hailed the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy against the 36 State governors in favour of the Federal Government.
Chairman of the Renewed Restoration Group, (RKRG) Alhaji (Dr) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, hailed the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy against the 36 State governors in favour of the Federal Government.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday.
Recall that the Supreme Court yesterday declared that it is unconstitutional for State governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.
The 7-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
The apex court held that the power of the Government is portioned into three arms of government, the Federal, the State and the Local government.
The court further declared that a State government has no power to elect a caretaker committee and a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically-elected government.
Ramalan said the RKRG, an a non-Partisan organisation, engaged in Deepening Democracy, Promoting Good Governance and Rule of Law, had for long been advocating for autonomy.
He said that the advocacy followed the report from its Zonal Coordinators over the under-development, insecurity, unemployment and unnecessary urban-rural migration affecting the people at the grassroots level and community.
Dr. Ramalan called for the State governors immediate compliance with the judgment, while charging Nigerian youths in politics to take advantage of the judgment.
He also urged them to prepare to take up leadership positions in their local government areas, to enable them to contribute their quota towards grassroots development.
He called on all Nigerians to focus on, and monitor, the local government administration in their respective States for resource management and dividends of democracy, since autonomy has now been fully granted.
The LG autonomy is now the hope for the poor and neglected people at the grassroots level, and the 25th democracy anniversary gift from the administration of Renewed Hope, led by President Commander in Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he stated.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirming the spirit, intent, and purpose of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the statutory rights of local governments.
According to a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President stated that a fundamental challenge to the nations advancement over the years had been ineffective local government administration, as governance at the critical cellular level of socio-political configuration is nearly absent.
Tinubu 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 benefitting from people-oriented service delivery. He 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, had tottered owing to the emasculation of local governments.
The President affirmed 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 Nigerias true federal fabric for the development of the entire nation.
Tinubu commended the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his diligence and patriotic effort on this important assignment.
The President stated that his administration remained 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.
