ATIKU BACKS LG AUTONOMY

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described Thursday’s judgement of the the Supreme Court affirming fiscal autonomy to local government councils in the country as a win for Nigerians.

Atiku, who said this in a statement posted on his X handle also described the ruling by the apex court as a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country.

The 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP added that the verdict of the court is in tandem with the core functions of the Supreme Court as an arbitration court between and among governments.

The former Vice President noted that the decision by the Federal Government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was borne out of politics of hasty compromise.

“I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure of the Nigerian government is portioned in three layers, and of these, the local governments should be centres of development,” Atiku said in the statement.

He however said local government, especially those in the urban areas should also be granted autonomy to generate and manage revenues from areas that are constitutionally in their domain

“I also share the belief that fiscal autonomy to the local governments should not be limited to revenues from the Federation Accounts, but indeed, should apply to Internally Generated Revenue from the respective local government authorities.

“Many of our states, especially those in the ultra urban areas with high density economic activities, have become notorious in muscling local councils from generating revenue on items that border on motor parks, outdoor advertising, rents and many more,” he said.

Supreme Court had on Thursday ruled in favour of full financial autonomy for the local government councils in the country.

In the landmark judgment, the apex court ordered the Federal Government to immediately start direct payment of local governments’ funds to the councils’ exclusive accounts.

Reading the lead judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim decried the decades-long refusal of state governments to allow financial autonomy for local governments in their respective states.

Justice Agim noted that the 774 local government councils in the country, constitutionally, should have the freedom to manage their funds themselves.