Presidency Urges State Governors to Respect Supreme Court’s Financial Autonomy Ruling for Local Governments

The Presidency has called on Nigerian state governors to embrace rather than oppose the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local councils.

The landmark judgement, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declares unconstitutional the long-standing practice of governors withholding funds allocated to local government administrations.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized the fundamental rights of local governments to manage their finances independently, highlighting the division of governmental powers across federal, state, and local levels.

The court also underscored that only democratically elected local government councils are legitimate entities, dismissing the authority of state-appointed caretaker committees.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, emphasized the critical role of local councils as the third tier of government and condemned their marginalization by governors over the past 25 years.

He urged governors to facilitate the full implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision, stressing that empowering local councils is crucial to addressing poverty and insecurity nationwide.

The statement from Onanuga underscores the Presidency’s stance that the autonomy of local governments must be upheld to foster effective governance and socio-economic development across Nigeria.