Nigeria’s relegated third tier of government, the local government administration, got a boost on Thursday when the Supreme Court made some landmark declarations, settling a decades-long debate on the financial demarcation between the 36 state governments of the federation and the 774 LG administrations across the country.
It was a victory at last for many local government chairmen and stakeholders because the Supreme Court pronouncements will elicit definitive developments that will greatly define the political space and temperature of the nation for years to come.
The seven-man panel of the Supreme Court, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the federation should manage their funds without interference or deduction from any quarter.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Federal Government, seeking to grant full autonomy and direct funding to all 774 local government councils in the country.
Designed to be the closest to the people and recognised by Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, the efficiency of the government at the grassroots has been hampered by the weight of some overbearing governors who see the third tier of government as offshoots of their political dynasties undeserving of both financial and democratic independence.
The subjugation of the local government system by the governors dates back to the beginning of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in 1999.
Labour unions like the Association of Local Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees had over the years clamoured for local government autonomy whilst some governors allegedly mismanaged the allocations for local governments.
Before the landmark verdict by the apex court on Thursday, local government funds were paid into a joint account operated by state governments and local governments in their domains.
With the Supreme Court verdict, the local governments will get 20.60% of the country’s monthly revenue allocations directly in accounts exclusively theirs while the Federal Government’s 52.68%, and states’ 26.72% remain.
The apex court pronouncements were direct and definitive, making many observers point out that the nation’s political firmament won’t be the same again.
For sure, the pronouncements have serious implications for governors, council chairmen and councilors and local government councils.
The absence of true federalism has been a major bane of Nigeria’s democracy. The verdict reinforces the nation’s push towards true federalism.
The three tiers of government can now function like they should be in a truly federal nation.
The Supreme Court ruling is a big, massive boost for local government autonomy.
For decades, local governments have suffered under the suffocating grip of governors who not only allegedly divert their funds but also impose chief executives on them.
Without the all-conquering powers of governors, council bosses can settle down to work without fear of intimidation and interference.
Many local governments across Nigeria have been deprived of allocations and financial resources required for development. With the verdict, the councils can deploy enough resources for the benefit of rural dwellers and stakeholders.
Owing to the decades of imposition through transitional arrangements and caretaker committees, democratic culture has been at the lowest ebb in many local governments.
By declaring that governors cannot dissolve democratically-elected local government councils, there would be deeper democratic activities at the grassroots.
“For decades, local governments have suffered under the suffocating grip of governors who not only allegedly divert their funds but also impose chief executives on them.”
Councillors in many local governments, constituting the legislative arm, have been docile, mainly drawing allowances without much to do.
With the apex court decision, they will become potent tools to checkmate the excesses of council chairmen, holding them accountable for actions and inactions like they should in a real democratic setting.
With governors unable to arbitrarily sack elected local government chairmen, competitions during local government polls would be tougher with many parties emboldened to fight the status quo.
They can hold on to their strongholds and give ruling parties a big run for their money. The voters would be the automatic winners with their increased ability to determine their chairmen as against the prevalent culture of imposition and clean sweep by ruling parties.
For many years, the local government bosses have been seen as disposable political items existing only at the whims and caprices of the governors. With this ruling, they can truly hold their heads high and deliver good governance without threat of political persecution and extinction.
Many council bosses have got away with many infractions in the past under the guise of being controlled by the states. The new lease of freedom means that people can truly hold them responsible for their actions and inactions.
With the culture of favouritism out of the way, local government stakeholders can truly determine helmsmen who perform and those due for replacement at the next electoral cycle.
With the most potent, visible excuse for non-performance taken care of by the verdict, there should be no reason why council chairmen won’t deliver democratic dividends to residents.
With the federal allocation directly paid and threat of sack out of the way, council bosses with ingenious political moves should be able to deliver good governance marked with developmental strides.
The Supreme Court pronouncements were neither ambiguous nor ambivalent. They were very concise, precise and direct, easy to understand.
The apex court has shown the lower courts the way to go on cases with significant impact as against ambivalent rulings and judgments, thus leaving room for misinterpretations by counsel and interested parties.
This is indeed the end of impunity, lawlessness and vindictiveness by governors in local government administration in Nigeria.
