Understandably, the Federal Government’s insistence on due process in the administration of local government, coupled with the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy for the councils seems to have raised an alarm on the part of governors.

Renowned academic and quality assurance expert, Prof. Yomi Akindele-Oscar, has criticised the persistent interference of state governments in local government autonomy. Speaking at the 2024 annual retreat of the Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ASELGON), Akindele-Oscar highlighted challenges faced by local governments due to state overreach. He stated, “State governments often withhold federal…

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Thursday said it will hold a national dialogue

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has declared that nobody gave 36 state governments three months moratorium before the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment on the autonomy of local governments.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has declared that nobody gave the 36 state governments any three-month

Former local government chairmen under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday threw their weight

Experts have said that without political autonomy, there can never be financial autonomy, noting that the independence of the third tier of government might be a mirage; these indices are not to be taken into consideration. Speaking at Caleb University’s Centre for Political Issues and Economic Reforms against the backdrop of the crucial role of…

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…

Amid confusion, yesterday, the Senate resolved to effect appropriate amendments in the Constitution to ensure full autonomy for local councils.   It urged all states and local councils to immediately comply with the Supreme Court judgment

Senator representing Borno South, senatorial district, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has expressed a dissenting view on the clamour by the state government for the establishment of state police. Ndume also called for caution in enforcing the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy and the amendment to the constitution. Ndume, who made the submission at…

Joint Account provision may be deleted Separate electoral commission to emerge Creation of more states re-echoed The constitutional provision for the payment of funds meant for local governments into a joint account may be the first victim of the new set of amendments being processed by the National Assembly. This legislative move is among the…

The constitution that will emerge from the on-going amendment exercise at the National Assembly may pay attention to giving legislative teeth to the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, recognition of traditional rulers as well as promotion of equity in the federation.