LG Autonomy: Civil Society Calls For Reform Of Local Government Elections
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room), has called for a reform to the process for conducting elections into local government councils in the wake of the Supreme Court’s judgement in favour of local governments’ financial autonomy from the state governments.
In a statement signed by the Convener of the group, Y.Z Ya’u, said reforming LGAs’ elections will give full effect to the intendment of the apex court’s judgment, and protect the local government system in Nigeria from the undemocratic and overbearing tendencies of some governors.
The group also applauded the judgment of the apex court directing the federal government, to pay allocations directly to LG Councils from the federation account, and withholding of allocations of LGAs governed by unelected officials appointed by state governors.
It said, “The Situation Room considers this judicial pronouncement, a vital intervention in Nigeria’s democratic development and calls on the State Governments to comply with the decision forthwith and strengthen the institution of governance at the grassroots by ensuring that Local Governments can deliver essential services without any hindrance.
“Since 1999, citizens have watched Governors make Local Government Councils appendages of their office by controlling their funds and appointing what is called “Caretaker Committees”; an administrative structure unknown to the law or Constitution.
“Some State Governors have also been known to neglect allocation of funds to the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct Local Government council elections.
“We call on citizens, civil society groups and community leaders to monitor the implementation of this judgment and put mechanisms in place to ensure accountability at the Local Government level.”
The Supreme Court had in a judgment on Thursday, scolded the decades-long refusal of the state government on financial autonomy for local governments.
In its lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court mandated the Federal Government to begin immediate and direct payment of local government funds to the latter’s exclusive accounts.
