The Civil Society For Total Democracy (CSTD), has accused the Lagos State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, of undermining the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Autonomy in the state.

The group said the Assembly was depriving Nigerians of the democracy of local politics and economy.

The pro-democracy movement, which made the assertion on Saturday, during a press conference in Lagos, warned against any attempt by the House of Assembly to impose undemocratic tendencies on the Local Governments, adding that the Supreme Court judgment must not be thwarted, and every effort at doing so will be met with serious resistance.

The Coordinator of CSTD, Opeyemi Benjamen Ogunlami said the group has been following activities of the Obasa-led House of Assembly, and has officially issued statements condemning and opposing the attempts at stifling the Local Government Autonomy and its practicality.

He said: “We were at the last public hearing on the Bills to regulate the affairs of the Local Councils. In the first place, these bills should not have been in the thought process if true democracy is anything to go by. The local councils have their own parliament. Why is the state parliament poking into its affairs?

“We reject every attempt by the Lagos State House of Assembly to impose undemocratic tendencies on the councils. The Supreme Court judgment must not be thwarted, and every effort at doing so will be met with serious resistance.

“We are watching the situation at Alimosho local council, and we want to say that the House of Assembly does not have any constitutional rights to suspend the Chairman!

“According to the Justice Garba Lawal-led Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024; the local councils have been granted full administrative and financial Autonomy! This means that the Lagos State House of Assembly is illegally interfering into the affairs of the Alimosho local council. It is only the Assembly of Councilors that has the right to suspend the Alimosho Chair.”

Ogunlami said the group is publicly endorsing the Local Government Autonomy and calling on the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Lagos to rise and defend the Supreme Court judgement.

He also called on the people of Alimosho to rise and take charge of both the politics and finances of its council.

“Enough is enough of those days when the local councils are a tool of funds swindling and money laundering by the state government and such cabals who deprive the people of democratic participation at the local levels.

“The Supreme Court judgment is a victory for the people to assert governance from below, and this must never be arm-twisted by any forces; whether it’s the state government or the state house of Assembly.”