LG autonomy Tinubu’s biggest milestone so far – Ndume

Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has described the Thursday judgement granting local government autonomy as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s biggest milestone since the assumption of office on May 29, 2023.

Ndume in a statement said since state governors hijacked the local government administration in Nigeria, by relying on a controversial section of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), no meaningful development has been achieved at the grassroots.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that it was unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.

The seven-man panel, in the judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.

Senator Ndume, however, called on President Tinubu to commence the implementation of the court judgement without further delay, noting that the people at the grassroots must begin to feel the impacts of good governance.

“This court action instituted at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the biggest achievement of his achievements. I’m very happy about the development, and I’m hoping that this will be the beginning of the liberation of local governments in Nigeria.

“Local government councils need to start getting their monthly allocations immediately without any further delays. The people at the grassroots level will begin to feel the impact of good governance now.

“The National Assembly made several attempts to amend the 1999 Constitution and address this grey area, but governors didn’t allow the State Assemblies to give the constitutional concurrence. That was how the attempts failed.

“President Muhammadu Buhari also tried to intervene. Governors didn’t allow him. With this Supreme Court judgment, the issue has finally been rested. No more unnecessary deductions from funds earmarked for local governments.

“The people can now hold the council chairmen accountable on how they spend their monthly allocations. They’ll begin to demand true accountability and judicious use of the funds they’ll be getting. I salute the courage of President Tinubu.”