The Nigerian Senate has expressed its full support for the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy, urging all States and Local Governments to comply with the ruling on fund disbursement and utilization.
After a closed-door session that lasted from 12:46 pm to 2:08 pm, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, moved two prayers to this effect. The first prayer sought compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, while the second prayer sought constitutional amendments to provide full autonomy for local governments.
Jibrin said, “Based on the deliberation made by this August Senate, and it just concluded its session, I stand to move on behalf of this Senate for the approval of two prayers in respect of the motion brought by Senator Tony Nwoye, thereby discarding the earlier prayers in the motion as brought by him.”
The two prayers are:
“1. That all states and local governments fully comply with the recent Supreme Court judgment on the disbursement and utilization of funds to all local governments in Nigeria.
“2. That the Senate ensures alterations to the relevant provisions of the constitution to provide for the full autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the Senate’s support for the Supreme Court’s position, stating, “The Supreme Court has said the money should go directly to the accounts of the government in the country. And so we have deliberated on it. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the final court of the land.”
Akpabio continued, “In other words, the Nigerian Senate stands strongly behind the Supreme Court’s position on its efforts, through judicial pronouncement, to sanitize the administration of local governments in the country and stop further abuse of local government funds. So we stand strongly behind the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
He also highlighted the need to sanitize local government administration and prevent fund abuse.
“We believe strongly that if there is any legacy this administration will leave behind, including the 10th Senate, it is the legacy of sanitizing the local governments.
“We will ensure that local government funds are well utilized for the benefit of the rural people and at the same time, local governments are allowed to function and function well. That will also in due course include their elections,” Akpabio said.
Before the closed-door session, Senator Tony Nwoye had raised concerns about state governments circumventing the Supreme Court judgment. Nwoye alleged that some governors were already using their Houses of Assembly to enact laws that would mandate respective local government councils in their states to remit monies into the state/local government joint account, which the Supreme Court ruled against.
Senator Adamu Aliero countered that the judgment is enforceable across the country, citing Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution. Akpabio ultimately suggested amending relevant constitutional provisions to implement the Supreme Court judgment, specifically section 162, sub-section 6, which created the state/local government joint account.
The Senate’s move aligns with previous efforts to amend the Constitution to allow for local government autonomy. The National Assembly has voted on several constitution alteration bills related to local government autonomy and good governance.
