‘Leaders will now provide services without excuses,’ Tinubu hails Supreme Court ruling on LGA autonomy

President Bola Tinubu has expressed happiness at the ruling of the Supreme Court which granted autonomy to the local councils.

The apex court had earlier on Thursday granted full autonomy to the 774 local councils in the country.

In its ruling on a suit filed by the Federal Government, the Supreme Court declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds budgeted for local government administrations.

It held that the federal government should pay any money standing to the credit of the local councils in the Federation Account directly to the local government areas managed by democratically elected officials.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the president noted that Nigerians, especially the poor, would be able to hold their local leaders to account.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court in historic ruling grants local govts full financial autonomy

He said the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutional rights and ideals of local governments regarding financial autonomy, and other salient principles, was significant and further reinforces the effort to enhance Nigeria’s true federal fabric for the country’s development.

Tinubu said: “By this judgement, our people – especially the poor – will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions.

“What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.

“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief and today’s judgement will ensure that it will be only those local officials elected by the people that will control the resources of the people.

“This judgement stands as a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and restructure our economy to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now