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By Madu Obi
The Labour Party, LP, caucus leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Ogene, has hailed the landmark Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 local governments in Nigeria, describing it as a significant milestone in the quest for true democracy and decentralization in the country.
In a statement in Awka, Ogene said the decision would empower grassroots development and bolster the integrity of local governance, arguing that it is bound to mark a substantial step forward for Nigeria's democratic journey.
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, ruled that all funds due to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria must be paid directly into their accounts, rather than to those of the state governments.
The apex court further held that it is unconstitutional for state governments to retain and utilize allocations meant for the LGAs on their behalf, without transferring them to the LGAs, as stipulated in Section 162(3) of the Constitution.
Ogene said: "The Supreme Court pronouncement will have a profound and far-reaching impact on our democracy, stabilizing and revitalizing it for the future.
This landmark decision will redefine the essence and practice of democratic governance in our nation, bringing development and governance closer to the grassroots, the very foundation of our democracy.
It will also empower the third -tier of government, as intended by the constitution, granting local government administrations greater autonomy and independence from the whims of state governors. No longer will local governments be subject to the puppeteering of self-appointed administrators, allowing the voices, development, and interests of the grassroots population to finally be heard and addressed."
According to Ogene, who is a member of the ongoing constitution review panel in the House of Representatives, "The next crucial step in this democratic journey is to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to oversee the organization of local government elections, thereby strengthening the integrity of the process by enhancing the transparency of leadership selection mechanisms at the grassroots level.
I am confident and optimistic that the current constitutional review will achieve this vital democratic reform for the betterment of our nation and its people.
I urge governors of states without democratically elected LGA administrators to embrace this sustainable democratic development and take the necessary steps to organize free and fair local government elections, as mandated by the constitution and reinforced by the recent Supreme Court decision."
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