LG autonomy: It’s not yet uhuru, says lawyer

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Ige Asemudara, says Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy should compel amendment of some provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution.

Asemudara, Founder, Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria, spoke in an interview with our reporter on Sunday in Lagos.

“With the judgment, the issue of local government autonomy vis-a-vis direct payment of accrued fund to the their accounts without a recourse to the state, is now settled.

“However, it is not yet uhuru. There are still other issues clogging full autonomy.

“Besides, the judgment has passed a half baked pie to us. There is need to amend a number of our constitutional provisions,” he said.

Asemudara said that the provisions requiring amendment included Section 3(6) and First Schedule listing local governments.

“It is an aberration that Section 3(6) and the First Schedule take away what Section 8(3) has been given.

“It will be a further abberation to invite INEC to conduct local government elections.

“We still have a long walk to freedom and we must not faint,” he said.

Mr Kabir Akingbolu, also a lawyer, said that the judgment was a landmark achievement and victory for democracy.

Mr Akingbolu praised the apex court for the judgment, saying that it saved democracy at the local government level.

“By this judgment, it is now impossible for governors to take money belonging to local governments anyhow,’’ he said.

He expressed optimism that local government autonomy would accelerate development at the grassroots.

“Now, as a local government chairman, you can employ and sack your own worker, unlike in the past, when you can even be issued a query for suspending staff.

“The effects of the judgment are far reaching though some people might not be seeing it. It is indeed a good one for democracy,” he said.

Akingbolu also said that, with the judgment, local governments being governed by caretaker committees would not be able to receive federal allocations directly.

“As at today, 21 of the 36 states in the country are being operated by caretaker committees.

“It means the 21 states’ local governments will not collect allocations because it is very clear from the judgment that it is a new dawn for democracy in Nigeria.

“Also, allocations can only be for local governments mentioned in the First Schedule of the constitution.

“It also means that local council development areas may not function again, and if they want to function, the state governments concerned may be funding them,” he said.

Akingbolu commended state governors, who were satisfied with the judgment.