In deference to the Supreme Court judgment granting full financial autonomy to council areas, Governor Abdullahi Sule has assented to a bill establishing the Nasarawa State Local Government Law 2024.

He signed the new law at a brief ceremony held yesterday at the Government House, Lafia. With the assent, the governor announced the abolition of the state/local government account to promote financial autonomy for the third tier of government, by allowing them to manage their resources directly and fund essential services for communities.

In his remarks shortly after signing the law, Sule described the event as a milestone not only in his administration’s governance framework, but also a new dawn that represents his unwavering commitment to upholding principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law at the grassroots.

He said: “As we embark upon this new chapter, it is crucial to state that this legislation we have assented to today is a demonstration of our deliberate effort to fully comply with the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy.

“This judgment has set a precedent that we as a state are committed to consolidating and honouring the law of our land.” Sule also renamed development areas as Area Administrative Councils (AACs), with the heads and other officials of the AACs to be appointed soon by the governor as provided by the new law, after confirmation by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

“The council is expected to be funded by the respective local government councils with counterpart funding from the state IGR,” he added. Besides, the governor announced the establishment of the State Economic Council, chaired by the deputy governor, to coordinate economic strategies and ensure that local councils align with the overall development goals of the state.

SIMILARLY, Governor Sure swore in the newly elected 13 council chairmen with a charge to them to be transparent and accountable in the course of their duties.

During the event in Lafia, Sule urged them to execute projects and programmes that would have a direct bearing on the lives of the people.

“You are to embrace transparency, accountability, probity and above all, prudence in the management of public resources.

“I want to congratulate the elected chairmen and 147 councillors on your emergence. Your emergence is a reflection of the confidence that the electorate reposed in you. “I call on you to justify the confidence reposed in you by turning around the fortunes of your respective local government areas,” he said.