Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised the Supreme Court’s verdict granting financial autonomy to local government councils.
The lead judgement, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, mandates the Federal Government to initiate direct and immediate payment of local government funds into their exclusive accounts.
The Supreme Court criticized the longstanding resistance of state governments to financial autonomy for local councils. Atiku hailed the judgement as a significant step towards enhancing national development efforts nationwide.
Taking to his official X account, Atiku on Thursday wrote, “The judgment of the Supreme Court earlier today affirming fiscal autonomy to local government councils in the country is a win for the people of Nigeria.
“The court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country.
“The decision by the Federal Government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was a decision that 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.”
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But Atiku, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, said the push for local government autonomy should not be limited to revenues.
“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 for muscling local councils from generating revenue on items that border on motor parks, outdoor advertising, rents, and many more. 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 added.
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