By Publisher
The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Federal Government should cease from further paying local government allocations through the state governments.
Delivering judgment in the local government autonomy suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of the Nigerian Government, the apex court also barred the Federal Government from releasing allocations to local governments governed by unelected officials appointed by the state governor.
In stopping the Federal Government from further paying LG allocations through the state governments, Justice Emmanuel Agim noted that the practice had been abused by governors.
He accused state governors of retaining allocations and utilising them as they please, to the detriment of the local government councils.
Therefore, the 36 governors of the federation were barred from further retaining or utilizing funds that are meant for the 774 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in the country, adding that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.
It maintained that the “dubious practice” which has gone on for over two decades, was a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
