Sen. Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, Alhaji Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, have applauded the Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to local governments in the country.
The legislators and the AG spoke when they visited President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Thursday in Abuja.
Akpabio said the request for local governments’ autonomy was placed before the courts by AGF because the Federal Government felt strongly about separation of powers and the need for autonomy for all arms of government.
“The Supreme Court has spoken and we have no option than to abide by the Supreme Court ruling.
“So, I will just call on all states of the federation to respect what the Supreme Court has done and then we will go back to the legislature to ensure full implementation.
“Because you know the words of the Supreme Court are like the words of the king, they cannot go without implementation,” said Akpabio.
He said the ruling was great for democracy, “and I congratulate the president for this initiative.
“I know that all Nigerians now know that local government administration is an arm of government meant for the grassroots and their money should be for the grassroots.
“Definitely, local governments can now undertake projects on their own. So, it’s a great day for democracy and is the beginning of great things to come.”
To the governors who seem not to conduct elections at local government level, Akpabio said that they should ensure impartial elections at the local government level so that all the political parties could participate.
“At the moment, there’s a lot of lethargy and nonchalant attitude by many political parties not in power at the state level; they hardly partake in local government elections because of they believe in bandwagon effect and all that.
“So, it is a great thing that the Supreme Court has done the needful, and now we have to go back and think, working with the AGF’s office and the parliament to see how we can ensure that there’s real election at the local government level.
“I think once that is done everybody will have confidence. It’s progress for democracy, and that is how it should be.
“So, we congratulate the justices of the Supreme Court and we in the parliament are determined to make sure there’s enforceability,” said Akpabio”.
Abbas was emphatic that history had been made with the Supreme Court judgment affirming the autonomy of local governments.
“This is an issue that has been before the parliament for the past two years; all the constitutional amendments so far carried by the National Assembly, one aspect has always been local government autonomy.
“Today everyone is happy and we are looking forward to local government that will work functionally, and that will be able to work on there own and extend goodwill to their own people undisturbed,” he said.
Fagbemi likened the Supreme Court judgment to the emancipation of local governments, which had freed them from the shackles of the past.
“I hope that local government officials will look at it as an opportunity to develop their various local governments.
“Part of it requires that states government’s conduct elections for local government areas.
He said the “ball is in the court of the governors but the judgement is clear as to what they should do.
“The judgement is clear as to what consequences will follow failure or refusal to follow the judgement of the Supreme Court which takes immediate effect.”(NAN)